‘Bring it!’ Federal agents reportedly antagonizing protesters and scattering weapons
Federal agents and protesters were in a tense standoff Thursday morning outside a federal immigration building in Minneapolis. The situation grew more intense after an ICE agent shot and killed a 37-year-old American woman, Renee Good, the day before. According to reports, the agent fired three shots into the vehicle she was driving, which led to her death. After the shooting, anger spread quickly across the city, and many people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies and the actions of federal law enforcement.
By early morning, protesters gathered outside the immigration facility and tried to block immigration officers from leaving the building to carry out their duties. As the crowd grew, federal agents from several different agencies arrived, creating a face-to-face confrontation with demonstrators. The mood was tense, emotional, and unpredictable.
CNN law enforcement analyst John Miller explained that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had already said the state’s National Guard was on standby in case things got worse. The governor emphasized that Minnesota’s National Guard works for the people of the state. Miller also pointed out that in past situations, such as protests in Los Angeles, the federal government had brought in National Guard troops from other states and even deployed U.S. Marines to protect federal buildings and support federal operations.
Miller warned that if the situation continued to escalate, President Donald Trump and his administration could decide to send in even more federal resources. This could include National Guard units from other states or even Marines, placed under federal control. At the same time, Miller said history shows that when incidents like this happen, protesters and activists from other cities often travel to the area. He compared the situation to past flashpoints like the George Floyd protests and unrest in Ferguson, saying Minneapolis could once again become a national focal point for protests and clashes.
CNN reporter Ryan Young, who was reporting live from the scene, described confusing and troubling behavior from some federal agents. He said it appeared that not all agents were handling the situation the same way. Some were clearly trying to calm things down by talking with protesters and attempting to de-escalate the conflict. Others, however, were doing the opposite. According to Young, some agents were openly provoking protesters, telling them to “bring it” and physically pushing people to the ground.
Young also reported that several agents seemed to lose control of their equipment as tensions rose. He said agents were dropping items like body cameras and pepper spray onto the ground during confrontations. This raised questions about training and discipline, especially during such a volatile situation.
As the morning went on, more federal personnel arrived at the scene. In addition to Border Patrol agents, Young observed what appeared to be special response teams from the Department of Homeland Security joining the line of officers. Protesters continued shouting at the agents, accusing them of murder, while some individuals moved right up to the officers’ faces, arguing and challenging them continuously.
Overall, the scene was chaotic and emotionally charged, with anger, fear, and frustration clearly visible on both sides. The situation showed signs of growing larger and more dangerous, with the possibility of more federal involvement and more protesters arriving from outside the city.
