US. Protests Erupt Nationwide After Two Immigration Officer Shootings in Two Days

As evening falls across the United States, protests continue nationwide after two shootings involving federal immigration officers within two days.

On Thursday afternoon, U.S. Border Patrol agents shot and wounded a man and a woman in Portland, Oregon. This followed the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, one day earlier.

As a result, demonstrations have spread to several cities. Protesters are demanding justice for Good and calling for an end to aggressive ICE operations.

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State Leaders Call for a Pause in Immigration Enforcement

In response, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek urged federal authorities to pause immigration enforcement. They said the pause should remain until an independent investigation is completed.

Moreover, Governor Kotek strongly criticized federal tactics. She described the Portland shooting as a result of what she called the “reckless agenda of the Trump administration.”

Federal Officials Defend the Use of Force

Meanwhile, Trump administration officials defended the officers involved in both shootings. They said the agents acted in self-defense.

According to federal officials, drivers in both incidents used their vehicles as weapons. Vice President JD Vance called Good’s death a “tragedy.” However, he also defended the ICE agent who fired the fatal shots.

These events have widened tensions between state and federal officials. Disagreements continue over how the shootings unfolded and whether lethal force was justified.

Immigration Raids Set to Expand With New Funding

At the same time, the Trump administration is preparing a major expansion of immigration enforcement in 2026. This plan comes despite growing political backlash ahead of the midterm elections.

Congress has approved $170 billion in additional funding for ICE and Border Patrol through September 2029. This marks a sharp increase from their current combined annual budget of about $19 billion.

Officials say the funds will allow the hiring of thousands of new agents. In addition, the government plans to build new detention centers, expand workplace raids, and partner with private firms to locate undocumented immigrants.

By late December, authorities had deported about 622,000 immigrants under Trump’s administration. White House border czar Tom Homan said deportation numbers will rise sharply next year as enforcement capacity grows.

Timeline of the Minneapolis Shooting

Separately, a Reuters investigation reconstructed the final 20 seconds before Renee Nicole Good’s death. The analysis relied on verified bystander videos.

The footage shows an ICE officer standing in front of Good’s moving vehicle when he drew his weapon. One second later, he fired three shots.

The first bullet pierced the windshield as the car moved past him. The second and third shots struck the driver’s side while the vehicle continued forward.

Notably, none of the videos show the incident from the officer’s perspective.

In response, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin labeled Good a “violent rioter.” She claimed Good used her vehicle as a weapon and described the act as “domestic terrorism.”