Lead — Relatives of Renee Good, the 37-year-old U.S. citizen shot and killed by a federal immigration agent on Jan. 7, spoke to Democratic lawmakers in Washington on Feb. 3, 2026, saying the family is devastated and sees no change in enforcement tactics. The forum came amid an intensified federal immigration operation in Minnesota that has lasted more than two months, produced thousands of arrests and multiple shootings, and prompted local and national pushback. Minnesota officials and community leaders warned that the operation is traumatizing children and straining city resources. Federal and state investigations into several shootings, including the Jan. 24 death of Alex Pretti, remain active.
Key takeaways
- Renee Good was killed by an ICE agent on Jan. 7, 2026; her brothers Luke and Brent Ganger testified to congressional Democrats on Feb. 3 that the family is still processing the loss.
- More than two months into the enforcement surge, officials say thousands of people have been arrested in the Twin Cities and at least three people have been shot in encounters involving federal agents.
- Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and V.A. nurse, was shot and killed on Jan. 24; the Hennepin County medical examiner ruled his death a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds.
- Local authorities and city officials estimate the crackdown has cost Minneapolis as much as $20 million per week in public-safety and emergency-management expenses.
- Gov. Tim Walz and other Minnesota leaders have raised concerns about children being detained or afraid to attend school; a judge ordered the release of a 5-year-old, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father from a Texas detention center.
- Federal and state investigators have clashed over access to evidence in the shootings; at least one preservation order was dissolved after a judge said he believed officials would not tamper with materials.
- Protests targeting retailers like Target spread nationally; organizers have staged sit-ins at dozens of stores and pressed company leadership for a public stance.
- Federal court activity in St. Paul included appearances by two Venezuelan men charged after an ICE shooting incident and by a man accused of squirting Representative Ilhan Omar with vinegar.
Background
In December 2025, the Justice Department and Homeland Security deployed a substantial number of federal immigration agents to Minnesota as part of a broader enforcement campaign. Officials said the operation targeted criminal networks and immigration violations; critics contend the tactics were aggressive, indiscriminate and produced harm to residents and businesses. Minneapolis has been a focal point for protests since the deployment, in part because the city remains a symbol of national debate over policing and civil rights.
The sequence of fatal encounters in early 2026 intensified scrutiny. Renee Good was shot on Jan. 7; weeks later, on Jan. 24, federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti. Video released by bystanders and widely circulated on social media challenged initial government characterizations of both incidents and helped mobilize public opposition. The state and federal governments opened overlapping investigations; local officials, prosecutors and advocacy groups have repeatedly pressed for access to evidence and for transparency.
Main event
On Feb. 3, 2026, Luke and Brent Ganger traveled to Washington to speak at a public forum organized by House Democrats about the use of force by federal immigration agents. Both men described the emotional toll of Good’s death and said their family had hoped such a loss might prompt changes in policy and practice. Lawmakers who attended thanked the brothers for their testimony and noted that the event, while public, was not a formal congressional hearing and therefore lacked subpoena power.
Meanwhile in Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz publicly criticized the detention and interrogation of children and urged a return to policies that had limited enforcement in schools during the prior administration. Walz and local education leaders described students who are afraid to attend class; school superintendents said staff and children have been intimidated by the presence of armed agents near campuses.
Court dockets in the Twin Cities have filled with cases tied to the operation. Two Venezuelan men — Alfredo A. Aljorna and Julio C. Sosa-Celis — appeared in federal court in St. Paul on charges connected to an ICE shooting that wounded one of them; the judge ordered conditional release while the cases proceed. Separately, Anthony J. Kazmierczak appeared in court after an allegation that he assaulted Representative Ilhan Omar by squirting vinegar; the magistrate judge declined pretrial release in that matter on public-safety grounds.
At the national level, the House approved short-term spending to keep the Department of Homeland Security funded through the following week while leaders negotiate longer-term terms tied to the administration’s immigration priorities. Lawmakers debated restrictions and oversight language that could affect the ongoing Minnesota operation. Tom Homan, the White House border adviser overseeing parts of the effort, has sought greater access to state jails and prisons — a demand that Minnesota officials have resisted — and suggested limited withdrawals could follow negotiated agreements.
Analysis & implications
The killings of two U.S. citizens within weeks in Minneapolis transformed the local enforcement operation into a national controversy. Video evidence and widely shared images — including the removal of a 5-year-old boy from a Minneapolis suburb — altered public perception and widened criticism to include some conservative constituencies that had previously supported tough border measures. Analysts say the combination of victims’ profiles and clear visual documentation made it harder for officials to sustain initial characterizations.
Politically, the episode has pressured the administration to recalibrate. Republican and Democratic senators alike have called for investigations; some GOP critics who once backed aggressive enforcement have urged de-escalation. Legal fights are multiplying in federal court as advocates press for records, and local prosecutors request access to evidence. Those legal disputes will shape what the public learns about the use of force and will influence any policy reforms that follow.
Economically, Minneapolis officials estimate substantial costs tied to responding to the operation: overtime for police, emergency-response expenses and public-works demands. Small businesses near protest sites report shifts in customers and a reorientation toward mutual aid, food distribution and sheltering protesters. The economic burden, combined with reputational effects, could linger for months if tensions persist.
For immigrant communities and U.S. citizens alike, the enforcement stance has tangible social consequences. Many residents report heightened fear, altered routines (including carrying passports), and erosion of trust in government institutions. Those social shifts may produce long-term civic and political effects, including changes in voter engagement, public safety strategies and local-federal cooperation.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Reported value | Date / source |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated Minneapolis response cost | Up to $20 million per week | City officials, Feb. 2026 |
| Known arrests tied to operation | Thousands | Local officials, Jan–Feb 2026 |
| Confirmed citizen deaths in Minneapolis | 2 (Renee Good, Jan. 7; Alex Pretti, Jan. 24) | County medical examiner / reporting |
The figures above summarize public statements and reporting through early February 2026. City estimates combine direct municipal spending and overtime; official accounting may be revised as expenditures are reconciled. Arrest tallies are cumulative and can include a range of immigration- and criminal-related charges; final case outcomes will affect the legal record.
Reactions & quotes
“These encounters with federal agents are changing the community, and changing many lives, including ours, forever.”
Luke Ganger, brother of Renee Good (testimony, Feb. 3, 2026)
Luke Ganger said the family had hoped his sister’s death would prompt reform but felt disheartened to see no change in enforcement conduct.
“Children are increasingly afraid to attend classes. We must protect our students and schools from intimidation.”
Governor Tim Walz (press conference, Feb. 3, 2026)
Walz urged a return to prior enforcement limits around schools and criticized detentions that he said have frightened students.
“We recognize the importance of peaceful protests as a way for individuals to express their views and be heard.”
Brian Harper-Tibaldo, Target spokesman (company statement)
Target said it was monitoring protests at stores and emphasized safety, while activists demanded that the retailer take a stronger public stance against the ICE operation.
Unconfirmed
- Precise total of arrests directly tied to the Minneapolis operation remains fluid; mayoral and federal tallies differ and counting conventions vary.
- Some accounts circulated online about direct orders to target specific neighborhoods or voter rolls are not independently verified at this time.
- The full contents of evidence held by federal investigators in the Pretti and Good cases are not publicly confirmed; access disputes between state and federal officials are ongoing.
Bottom line
The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the broad federal operation in Minnesota have raised immediate legal, political and social questions. Video evidence and high-profile images shifted national attention, prompting bipartisan concern and placing pressure on federal authorities to justify tactics and provide transparency. In the short term, expect continued litigation over evidence access, additional congressional scrutiny, and negotiations over enforcement limits as part of budget and oversight talks.
For residents and businesses in Minneapolis, the consequences are local and concrete: economic costs, community trauma, and a sustained period of mutual-aid organizing. Policymakers at the state and federal levels face competing pressures to balance enforcement goals with demands for accountability — a contest that will shape both immediate responses and longer-term immigration policy debates.