WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) is outraged and devastated by the fatal shooting of a civilian by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis—a terrifying incident that showcases not only ongoing violent federal overreach in our cities, but violations of our First Amendment rights to peacefully protest. 

Said Nicole Melaku, NPNA executive director, “We vehemently condemn the murder of Renee Nicole Good, a civilian legal observer in Minneapolis, at the hands of ICE. Across the country, federal agents run rampant in our cities with little oversight or accountability, bent on escalating violence and meeting detention and deportation quotas under a false banner of ‘safety’ and ‘security.’ We know what it takes for everyone in our communities to have safety and stability, and it doesn’t include federal agents undermining public safety, fomenting chaos, and violently kidnapping and murdering our neighbors. 

“We stand with our members in Minnesota and their community and echo their urgent calls for ICE to abandon its reckless operation in their state. We’re heartened to see local officials like Mayor Frey call for the immediate expulsion of federal agents from Minneapolis, and we hope to see more elected officials display courage, conviction, and willingness to protect our democracy and their residents in the wake of this tragedy.” 

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The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) is a multi-ethnic, multiracial coalition of 88 of the nation’s largest immigrant and refugee rights organizations with reach across over 42 states. Together with our members, we advance immigrant and refugee equity and inclusion, build and expand immigration legal services and integration programming capacity, and drive campaigns that strengthen democracy through increased civic participation. See our website for more information at partnershipfornewamericans.org.