In the days after two 37-year-old American citizens were fatally shot in incidents involving federal agents in Minneapolis this month, large-scale anti-ICE demonstrations erupted across the United States on January 30, 2026. Protesters staged a coordinated “National Shutdown” calling for “no work, no school, no shopping,” with major actions reported in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City and Decatur, Georgia. The deaths — including ICU nurse Alex Pretti on Jan. 24 and mother of three Renee Nicole Good earlier in January — have intensified scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement during the Trump administration’s second term. Demonstrations combined street marches, school walkouts and calls for accountability as local communities sought answers and policy changes.
Key Takeaways
- Two Minneapolis deaths: Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was shot on Jan. 24; Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was killed earlier in January in a separate incident involving an ICE agent.
- National day of action: On Jan. 30, protesters organized a “National Shutdown”—a coordinated day of strikes and walkouts—in cities including Minneapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City and Decatur, Georgia.
- Demonstration tactics: Events included street marches, school walkouts (notably Decatur High School under a John Lewis statue), and public rallies despite prolonged frigid temperatures in some locations.
- Public opinion: A New York Times/Siena poll found 61% of voters said ICE tactics had “gone too far” after Good’s shooting; earlier January polling showed just over half of respondents saying ICE enforcement made cities less safe.
- Press freedom concerns: Protesters raised alarms about recent arrests of independent journalists, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon, in connection with an earlier disruption at a Minnesota church.
- Demands and targets: Protesters called for an end to large-scale ICE operations and greater transparency in federal use-of-force cases tied to immigration enforcement.
Background
The protests follow two lethal encounters this month in Minneapolis involving federal agents. Authorities have said the incidents involved federal immigration operations; community members and advocates contend the shootings reflect an aggressive enforcement posture that accelerated during the current administration’s second term. Both victims were 37-year-old U.S. citizens — a detail that has intensified local outrage and fuelled national debate about ICE tactics and oversight.
Large-scale ICE operations have been a prominent element of federal policy under the Trump administration, prompting recurring clashes with immigrant-rights groups, local officials and some law enforcement leaders. Past high-profile cases of alleged excessive force and civil-rights complaints have made federal immigration enforcement a flashpoint in urban areas where community-police relations are already strained. Organizers of the Jan. 30 action framed the day as a coordinated moment of civil resistance: a mix of economic disruption, school walkouts and public protest.
Main Event
On Jan. 30, protesters gathered in cold conditions to participate in the “National Shutdown” against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In Minneapolis, crowds marched near sites connected to the recent shootings; in cities including Los Angeles and New York, demonstrators staged rallies and pickets. Some participants carried signs calling for an end to ICE raids and for independent investigations into the two deaths.
Student walkouts were reported at multiple high schools. In Decatur, Georgia, students assembled beneath a statue of Congressman John Lewis before marching in solidarity with Minneapolis. Organizers said the educational actions were designed to both protest enforcement practices and highlight community-level impacts of federal immigration policy.
Protesters also spotlighted the arrests of journalists following earlier demonstrations, calling the detentions a threat to press freedom. Demonstrators in New York displayed posters demanding the release of journalists detained in connection with disruptions at a Minnesota church earlier in the month. Law enforcement in several cities deployed officers to manage crowds, and organizers said most events remained peaceful though tense.
Analysis & Implications
The nationwide response underscores the political and social volatility surrounding immigration enforcement. The fact that both victims were U.S. citizens complicates the narrative for federal authorities and raises questions about operational rules of engagement and accountability mechanisms when immigration agents execute arrests or other enforcement actions. Pressure is likely to mount on federal and local prosecutors to clarify facts quickly to restore community confidence.
Politically, the protests amplify an existing public-opinion vulnerability for the administration: recent polling indicates substantial portions of the electorate view current ICE tactics as excessive. That trend could influence legislative debates over funding, oversight and jurisdictional limits on federal immigration activities, especially as state and local leaders weigh cooperation with federal agencies.
Operationally, agencies may face two competing pressures: calls to rein in aggressive tactics and demands from proponents of strict enforcement to sustain or escalate operations. The balance struck will affect community policing, intergovernmental cooperation and the scope of future federal immigration actions in urban centers.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Finding | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Post-shooting public view | 61% said ICE tactics had “gone too far” | New York Times/Siena poll (Jan. 2026) |
The available polling cited in coverage shows a majority-critical view of ICE tactics after the Good shooting; earlier January polling samples indicated a slimmer majority expressing concerns about ICE making cities less safe. Those survey snapshots suggest public attitudes are sensitive to high-profile incidents and may shift as more details emerge from investigations.
Reactions & Quotes
“No work, no school, no shopping.”
Protest organizers (slogan for the Jan. 30 National Shutdown)
The slogan above framed the day of action and was repeated by demonstrators in multiple cities as a concise statement of the strike’s aims.
“ICE tactics had ‘gone too far.'”
New York Times/Siena poll (summary of respondents)
Polling language has been used by advocates and critics alike to argue for policy change or for maintaining current enforcement priorities, depending on interpretation of the data.
“Release independent journalists detained during protests.”
Demonstrators in New York City and other locations
Supporters of detained journalists described the arrests as a free-press concern and pressed local authorities for transparency about charges and handling.
Unconfirmed
- Full investigative findings on the precise circumstances surrounding each shooting remain pending; official reports with forensic details have not been publicly released in full at the time of reporting.
- The specific chain-of-command decisions and rules of engagement exercised by the federal agents involved have not been independently verified.
- Details around the arrests of certain journalists, including formal charges and prosecutorial intentions, are still emerging and have not been comprehensively corroborated in public records.
Bottom Line
The deaths of two citizens in incidents tied to federal immigration activity have catalyzed a nationwide protest movement that blends demands for accountability, policy change and protection of civil liberties. The coordinated Jan. 30 “National Shutdown” demonstrates how local incidents can rapidly escalate into nationwide political mobilization when they intersect with broader public concerns about enforcement tactics and civil rights.
How federal and local authorities handle ongoing investigations, and how quickly they provide transparent findings, will shape whether demonstrations subside or escalate. For policymakers and communities alike, the immediate questions center on oversight, operational reform and the limits of federal enforcement in densely populated urban areas.
Sources
- ABC News — news report summarizing protests and incidents (primary coverage)