Video shows immigration arrest in Minneapolis amid heightened tensions after Renee Good shooting

Video footage shows federal immigration agents forcing their way into a Minneapolis home during an arrest, as tensions remain high following the fatal shooting of Renee Good last week. The arrest took place during what the Department of Homeland Security has described as its largest immigration enforcement operation to date.

Minneapolis neighborhoods remain on alert as protests continue across the city and surrounding areas. Residents say the combination of aggressive enforcement and a recent fatal shooting has heightened fear and uncertainty.

Immigration arrest caught on video

Federal agents carrying out immigration arrests in Minnesota’s Twin Cities region forced entry into a residential home on Sunday, according to video footage and eyewitnesses. Protesters gathered outside the house as agents arrived.

The video shows agents ramming the front door of a single-family home and pushing inside. Demonstrators outside tried to disrupt the operation by honking car horns, beating drums, and blowing whistles.

Agents confronted protesters in the street and used pepper spray within minutes. Shortly afterward, officers led a man out of the home in handcuffs and placed him into a vehicle. The arrest ended quickly, leaving residents shaken.

Questions over arrest authority

Video from the scene shows a woman exiting the house holding a document that agents presented as authorization for the arrest. Immigration advocates said the document appeared to be signed by an immigration officer rather than a judge.

Administrative immigration warrants allow agents to make arrests in public spaces. They do not permit forced entry into private homes without a court order signed by a judge.

Immigrant advocacy groups have repeatedly urged residents not to open their doors unless agents present a judicial warrant. These “know-your-rights” campaigns have expanded as enforcement activity has increased across Minnesota.

The Department of Homeland Security said more than 2,000 immigration arrests have taken place statewide since the operation began in early December. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin described the effort as the agency’s largest enforcement campaign ever in the Twin Cities region.

City remains tense after Renee Good shooting

The arrest comes as Minneapolis continues to grapple with the killing of Renee Good. The 37-year-old woman was shot and killed Wednesday during an encounter with immigration officers while sitting in her vehicle.

Federal officials said the officer involved acted in self-defense. Community leaders and residents have strongly questioned that account.

Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez said federal agents have been highly visible across the city, especially in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations.

“We’re seeing a lot of immigration enforcement across Minneapolis and across the state,” Chavez said. “Federal agents are swarming our neighborhoods.”

Chavez said he monitors community message groups where residents share real-time information about where agents are operating. Many residents use the information to avoid encounters.

Community observers mobilize

In the neighborhood where Good was killed, residents stood watch on street corners throughout the weekend despite freezing temperatures. Volunteers used whistles and phones to alert neighbors if agents appeared.

Unidos MN, a local human rights organization, said more than 20,000 people have taken part in enforcement observer training since the 2024 election. The volunteers document arrests and help inform residents of their rights.

“It’s a role people take on because they want to protect their neighbors,” said Luis Argueta, a spokesperson for the group.

While protests have remained largely peaceful, anxiety continues across the city. Minneapolis Public Schools announced that students will have the option of remote learning for the next month. Officials cited safety concerns as tensions remain high.

Several schools closed temporarily last week following Good’s death and the unrest that followed.

Calls grow for independent investigation

As enforcement continues, pressure is growing over who should investigate the shooting that killed Good. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and U.S. Senator Tina Smith said federal authorities should not handle the investigation alone.

Both officials said an independent or state-led inquiry would help ensure credibility.

“How can we trust the federal government to conduct an objective investigation when it has already stated what it believes happened?” Smith said in an interview on ABC’s “This Week.”

The Trump administration has defended the officer involved, claiming Good used her vehicle as a weapon. Todd Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, repeated that defense during a Sunday appearance on Fox News.

Lyons said the officer had only seconds to make a life-or-death decision. He also argued that large-scale federal operations would not be necessary if local governments cooperated more closely with immigration authorities.

Protests spread nationwide

Good’s killing has become part of a wider national debate over immigration enforcement. Demonstrations took place in several cities over the weekend, including Portland, Oregon, where federal agents also shot two people during enforcement actions.

In Minneapolis, thousands marched on Saturday calling for accountability and limits on federal immigration operations. Homeland Security officials said the Twin Cities deployment represents the agency’s largest immigration enforcement effort in the region.

As investigations continue and enforcement operations remain active, Minneapolis faces a period of uncertainty marked by heightened tensions, sustained protests, and growing demands for transparency.