Minnesota protests continue after ICE shooting

NewsNation senior national correspondent Brian Entin reported Friday from downtown Minneapolis, where hundreds of demonstrators were marching in the streets with no visible police presence.

The protesters effectively controlled and routed traffic as they focused on making noise outside hotels where they believe ICE officers are staying, Entin reports.

Liberal podcaster Adam Mockler joined “CUOMO” to offer his thoughts on unrest in Minnesota following Wednesday’s fatal shooting involving an ICE officer. Mockler said people shouldn’t try to impede law enforcement, but he faulted the tactics ICE has used during the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

“There needs to be interior immigration enforcement in some way, of course,” he said. “But I don’t see the interior immigration enforcement targeting criminals or dangerous people. It seems like ICE themselves are becoming dangerous.”

Former NYPD Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard and ex-Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria “Rondo” Arradondo join “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” to discuss video from the ICE officer’s point of view in the fatal shooting of Renee Good.

More than 800 Customs and Border Patrol agents are at the ready to surge in Minnesota, which would total an additional 1,000 agents.

“This latest footage corroborates what DHS has stated all along. This individual was impeding law enforcement and weaponized her vehicle against @ICEgov. The officer dutifully acted in self-defense,” DHS said on social media. “The American people can watch this video with their own eyes and judge for themselves.”

When asked by reporters about the shooting in Minnesota, Trump called Renee Good “a very high-level agitator” and “a professional troublemaker.” He did not provide any specific evidence to support that claim.

The president was also asked about the FBI’s refusal to share evidence with Minnesota law enforcement. Trump repeated his claim that the 2020 election was stolen and stated that he won Minnesota three times, which is untrue. He did not win in the state during any of the three elections where he was a candidate.

New video released by Alpha News appears to show the shooting of Renee Good from the ICE officer’s perspective.

People with videos or information about the shooting death of Renee Nicole Macklin Good are being asked to share with local and state officials, who are currently barred from accessing FBI evidence on the case.

When local authorities responded to the scene on Wednesday, the FBI had already taken the car Renee Good was driving, said Hennepin County Attorney General Mary Moriarty.

“The problem isn’t the FBI took the car, it’s that the BCA doesn’t have access to the car or, right now, even access to the forensic evaluation that happens as a result of the investigation with that car,” Moriarty said. “That’s the concern here.”

Past investigations have been collaborative and allowed Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension access to evidence, Moriarty said.

The portal for evidence submission is available at this link.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, is urging Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to leave her position “before more Americans are killed.”

Newsom’s statement, seemingly referencing the fatal ICE-related shooting in Minnesota, comes as even fellow Republicans have cast doubt on Noem’s handling of the incident.

Within hours of the shooting, Noem had characterized the act of force as justified and accused the shooting victim of committing an “act of domestic terrorism.” Other Trump officials, including White House border czar Tom Homan, have refrained from similar remarks and instead called for a thorough investigation.

“It’d be unprofessional to comment on what I think happened in that situation,” Homan told CBS News. “Let the investigation play out and hold people accountable based on the investigation.” 

NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this report.

Protesters and federal agents are clashing outside a government building in Minneapolis.

In the video below from NewsNation’s Ali Bradley, agents can be seen firing pepper balls at the street as they advance toward protesters. The situation did not escalate further, and eventually the agents returned to their side of the street.

Warning: The video includes profanity.

Federal officials will reexamine more than 5,000 refugee cases in Minnesota following recent fraud claims in the state, the Department of Homeland Security announced Friday.

The so-called “Operation PARRIS,” or Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening, will see DHS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services conducting further background checks, interviews and merit reviews for those seeking permanent resident status.

The operation will first target 5,600 Minnesota refugees who have not yet obtained their green cards.

“Minnesota is ground zero for the war on fraud,” a DHS spokesperson said. “This operation in Minnesota demonstrates that the Trump administration will not stand idly by as the U.S. immigration system is weaponized by those seeking to defraud the American people. American citizens and the rule of law come first, always.”

Read more: What is the Minnesota social aid fraud scandal about?

Education Minnesota, a union representing K-12 teachers, has demanded federal immigration enforcement take place far away from schools.

“Yesterday’s actions by ICE in Minnesota — including the shooting of a community member, the unjust detention of a Minnesota educator, and the use of pepper spray on students — are unconscionable in a civil society,” said Monica Byron, union president.

The organization said ICE operations pose a physical safety risk for teachers and students, and “undermine teaching and learning.”

The Department of Homeland Security said two people shot by a federal agent in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday were associates of the Tren de Aragua gang.

In a post on social media, DHS said the pair “weaponized their vehicle” against Border Patrol and that an agent shot them in self-defense.

The agency identified the driver of the vehicle as Luis David Nico Moncada, who was in the country illegally with a final order of removal, and the passenger as Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras.

Portland leaders have called for an end to ICE operations in the city following the shooting, arguing it’s not “a training ground for militarized agents.”

The full story: Portland shooting victims linked to Tren de Aragua, DHS says

In a letter addressed to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., echoed calls for the FBI to allow Minnesota officials to access evidence in the shooting death of Renee Good.

“It is critical there be a thorough, objective, and impartial investigation. That requires full cooperation with state investigators and local authorities,” Klobuchar wrote.

Excluding the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from the investigation raises questions about the administration’s objectivity, “particularly after administration officials have made statements that conflict with the video and other evidence that has already become public,” Klobuchar wrote.

“Therefore, we strongly urge you to reverse your decision and coordinate with state and local officials,” she continued.

Minneapolis Public Schools will offer remote learning through at least Feb. 12, the state’s primary teachers union confirmed to NewsNation on Friday.

“As far as we know, they are the only district to announce this so far, but many others are discussing plans and will likely make announcements soon,” the union said.

The change comes amid “significant disruptions” and closures this week.

MPS is compromised of 96 schools serving nearly 30,000 students, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.

During a Friday press briefing, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he stands by his statements calling out the Trump administration’s ICE operations in the city.

“I dropped an f-bomb, they killed somebody. Which one of those is more inflammatory?” he asked.

Frey, a member of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, earlier this week told federal immigration officials to “get the f— out“ of his city.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey accused the Trump administration and its Department of Justice of having “already come to a conclusion,” referencing multiple federal officials who have labeled Renee Macklin Good as a “domestic terrorist” and have justified her killing as self-defense.

“We know that they’ve already determined much of the investigation. And even if they haven’t, there is the appearance that there is some conclusion drawn from the very beginning,” he said.

While federal officials claim she was trying to run officers over, many Minnesota lawmakers maintain she was just trying to leave the situation.

Read more: Can ICE officer in fatal Minneapolis shooting be prosecuted?

Jason Chavez, a Minneapolis city council member, said widely circulated videos of the shooting disprove “the false narrative from the federal government.”

Chavez, among other speakers during a Friday press briefing, called for the arrest, prosecution and firing of the ICE officer behind Macklin Good’s death.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Friday called for the FBI to work with state agencies to conduct a fair investigation into the death of Renee Nicole Macklin Good.

“This is not the time to bend the rules. This is a time to follow the law. This is not a time to hide from the facts, this is a time to embrace them,” Frey said.

The U.S. attorney’s office on Wednesday barred the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from assisting in a federal investigation into the shooting death, Drew Evans with the BCA said in a statement.

If there is nothing to hide from local investigators, Frey said, “Why not include them in the process?”

Protests took place in Portland, Oregon, overnight Thursday after federal agents shot and injured two people during a vehicle stop.

The Department of Homeland Security said the victims have ties to a Venezuelan gang. Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., tells “Morning in America” those alleged ties would need to be determined by the courts.

“Law enforcement doesn’t get to be judge, jury and executioner,” she said.

As protests continue over Wednesday’s fatal ICE shooting, Minneapolis City Council Member Jamison Whiting is commending protesters for showing up peacefully.

“You are not seeing looting, you are not seeing riots, you are seeing thousands and thousands of Minnesotans coming to mourn the life of a mom,” Whiting tells “Morning in America.”

Whiting adds that, while Minneapolis is a resilient city, “We are tired of being resilient.”

Demonstrators are expected to gather in metros across the nation on Friday, including Minneapolis; Milwaukee; Denver; Austin, Texas; and San Jose, California.

Friday’s expected demonstrations follow days of unrest in Minnesota, where at least three people were arrested and several others were held on the ground by law enforcement on Thursday, and a night of protests in Portland.

Jimmy Kimmel held up a shirt that said “Donald J. Trump is going to kill you” during Wednesday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in response to the fatal shooting in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

NewsNation’s Katie Pavlich tells “On Balance” that harmful language toward federal agents “came way before yesterday” and that she was “shocked, but not surprised” by Kimmel’s comments.

The Minnesota Timberwolves held a moment of silence before their game Thursday night for Renee Good.

“As we all know, our community has suffered yet another unspeakable tragedy,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said before his team defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“We want to just convey our condolences and heartfelt wishes and prayers and thoughts to the families and loved ones and all of those that are greatly affected by what happened.”

Rayfield announced the Oregon Department of Justice is opening a formal investigation into the shooting incident in Portland.

“We have been clear about our concerns with excessive use of force by federal agents in Portland and nationally,” Rayfield said in a statement.

“We have also been clear about our intent to investigate circumstances involving federal agents to ensure they are accountable to acting within the scope of their official duties. Today’s incident only heightens the need for transparency and accountability. Our office will take every step necessary to ensure that the rights and security of Oregonians are protected.”

“The investigation will look into whether any federal officer acted outside the scope of their lawful authority and will include witness interviews, video evidence, and other relevant materials. If evidence of criminal conduct is found cases may be referred to the Multnomah County District Attorney for potential prosecution.

“This investigation follows a November letter sent by Attorney General Rayfield, along with Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez, Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton, and Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth, which raised urgent concerns about a pattern of excessive force by federal officers operating in Oregon.

“The letter documented multiple incidents in which federal officers used disproportionate force, including munitions striking law enforcement personnel and actions that endangered residents and bystanders. The letter called on federal agencies to halt unlawful actions, improve training, investigate excessive-force complaints, and cooperate fully with state oversight.”

“We are all shaken and outraged by another terrible, unnecessary violent event instigated by the reckless agenda of the Trump administration, this time in our own state, in our largest city, coming just one day after the tragedy in Minnesota,” Gov. Kotek said.

“While details remain limited, one thing is clear: when a president endorses tearing families apart, and attempts to govern through fear and hate rather than shared values, he fosters an environment of lawlessness and recklessness.

“I am aligned with Mayor Wilson: the priority right now is a full, completed investigation, not more detentions. The Attorney General, district attorneys, and I have been clear about our concerns with the excessive use of force by federal agents in Portland, and today’s incident only heightens the need for transparency and accountability. Oregonians deserve clear answers.

“There are those who want to cause chaos. But Oregonians know how to stand up and speak out, peacefully. We must remain united in peaceful opposition to efforts to tear our communities apart and turn against one another. We will not take the bait.

“I am grateful to the first responders who have been on the frontline of today’s events. The state will continue to support Portland, and stand united with Minnesota.”

Geraldo Rivera, NewsNation correspondent-at-large, and Minnesota Republican State Rep. Michael Holmstrom join “CUOMO” to discuss the fallout from the Minneapolis ICE shooting.

“ATF Special Agents responded to Portland, Oregon, where they are on scene and assisting with crime gun intelligence after a US Border Patrol officer-involved shooting,” the ATF said in a statement on X.

Stu Kaplan, a former FBI special agent, and Rich Stanek, a former Hennepin County sheriff, join “CUOMO” to explain who they believe is to blame for the ICE shooting in Minnesota.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has called on ICE to halt all operations in the Oregon city.

“We know what the federal government says happened here,” Wilson said in a media conference Thursday night.

“There was a time when we could take them at their word. That time is long past.”

Portland Police Chief Bob Day said during a Thursday night press conference that the FBI is in control of the investigation and there is no word yet on the condition of the two victims.