‘A tragedy of her own making’: US Vice President JD Vance defends ICE after Minneapolis shooting

WASHINGTON: US Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday (local time) described the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent as “a tragedy of her own making”, while expressing strong support for ICE officers and asserting that attacks against them would not deter the administration from enforcing the law.

In a post on X, Vance said, “I want every ICE officer to know that their President, Vice President and the entire administration stands behind them. To the radicals assaulting them, doxxing them, and threatening them: congratulations, we’re going to work even harder to enforce the law”.

Vance also commented directly on Good’s death in a separate post on Wednesday evening, writing, “You can accept that this woman’s death is a tragedy while acknowledging it’s a tragedy of her own making”.

Watch as aerial video shows thousands of protesters and community members with candles gathered in Minneapolis at the site where 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was killed in an ICE-involved incident.
Unfortunate that a life was lost.

I continue to be thankful every day for the… pic.twitter.com/csHHRX0xn6

— Ape𝕏 (@CubanOnlyTrump) January 8, 2026

The remarks come amid widespread anger and grief in Minneapolis following the shooting, which occurred during a confrontation between Good and an ICE agent, CNN reported.

The incident has intensified tensions in the city, particularly as it coincided with a broader federal crackdown on immigration enforcement following a welfare-related scandal that led to the state governor withdrawing from his re-election campaign.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement on Wednesday (local time), after a woman was shot dead by an US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Officer. The Federal Agency said that “the Officer fired defensive shots, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public.”

In a post on X, the Department of Homeland Security said that ICE Officers were conducting “targeted operations” in Minneapolis when rioters began blocking the ICE officers. One of the “violent rioters” attempted to run over the officers in an attempt to kill them, according to Homeland Security, which it called “an act of domestic terrorism.”

Today, ICE officers in Minneapolis were conducting targeted operations when rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them—an act of domestic terrorism.…

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 7, 2026

“He used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers. The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. The ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries.”

The post added, “This is the direct consequence of constant attacks and demonization of our officers by sanctuary politicians who fuel and encourage rampant assaults on our law enforcement who are facing 1,300% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats.”

As per the Homeland Security, this is an evolving situation, and it would give public more information as soon as it becomes available.

Minnesota Senator Tina Smith identified Renee Nicole Good as the woman who was fatally shot, a detail first reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune. In a post on X, Smith said Good was a US citizen. Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan said Good was the mother of a six-year-old child, according to CNN.

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Good was “stalking and impeding” officers throughout the day and attempted to “weaponize her vehicle” by trying to run over an agent. The ICE officer involved “used his training to save his own life and that of his colleagues,” Noem said, as cited by CNN.

Several Minnesota leaders blamed the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics for escalating tensions that preceded the fatal shooting. Governor Tim Walz said he was prepared to deploy the state’s National Guard if required.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the situation was testing “the endurance of our republic,” CNN reported. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the incident has further strained an already tense atmosphere in the city following weeks of aggressive immigration enforcement. He said the department is increasing resources and remains at an elevated state of readiness through the night.

Amid safety concerns, Minneapolis public schools announced closures for the remainder of the week. “Out of an abundance of caution, there will be no school on Thursday, January 8 and Friday, January 9 due to safety concerns related to today’s incidents around the city,” a notice on the district’s website said.

The notice added that all school-sponsored programmes, activities, athletics and community education classes would also be cancelled. “School will resume on Monday, January 12,” the notice said. (ANI)