At Fort Snelling, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem calls shooting by federal agent ‘preventable’ by victim

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem doubled down on her characterization of the fatal shooting of a woman by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis as the result of an “act of domestic terrorism” while criticizing Minnesota’s immigration policies.

Flanked by federal agents in Fort Snelling, Noem addressed reporters in the wake of the Jan. 7 shooting by first lamenting the loss of life while calling the shooting “preventable” by the victim, Renee Good.

“We’re just enforcing the laws that have been in this country for years,” she said, claiming that Good and others at the scene were harassing agents during an operation.

Noem made similar comments earlier Wednesday in Texas during a visit to discuss border security.

In a detailing of what the DHS says happened, Noem said that at about 10:30 a.m., one of her agency’s vehicles became stuck in the snow. Law enforcement agents were attempting to push the vehicle out, Noem said, when a “mob of agitators” began blocking them and shouting.

Noem said the driver, who was identified by family as the 37-year-old Good, was harassing and impeding ICE agents. Noem said agents repeatedly told Good to get out of the car, but she refused. Noem then said Good “proceeded to weaponize her vehicle, and she attempted to run a law enforcement officer over.”

Noem said an ICE agent fired “defensive shots” in line with his training and was hit by the vehicle.

Asked about Frey disputing claims that the shooting was in self-defense, Noem said the mayor “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” and that the ICE agent was following training.

Noem said the DHS will follow standard procedures to investigate the use of force but did not provide further details about the agent.

She said the agent was admitted to the hospital for injuries related to the encounter and has since been released. Noem said the agent had been dragged by a driver in Minneapolis in June.

Noem said she discussed the shooting with President Donald Trump and Gov. Tim Walz, acknowledging that Walz holds a different view of the shooting. Noem said deployment of the National Guard, as seen in Chicago and other U.S. cities before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration on that issue, has “not been part of the discussion.” She made sharp critiques of the state’s leadership over its so-called sanctuary policies that limit local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration agents.