Minnesota

Why state charges for Minneapolis ICE shooting are possible but tricky

Published

3 days ago

January 12, 2026

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Why state charges for Minneapolis ICE shooting are possible but tricky

To get a case to trial, state prosecutors may have to show federal immunity doesn’t apply.

Many in Minnesota and across the country were outraged by the killing of Renee Nicole Good by a federal immigration agent in a Minneapolis neighborhood, and called for the agent to face charges. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who oversees the city’s police department, said the Trump administration’s characterization of the shooting as self-defense is “spin.”

But even if Minnesota prosecutors conclude the shooting was a crime, can they charge a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent for something he did on the job? No, according to Vice President JD Vance, who asserted that the agent has “absolute immunity” from criminal charges.

The reality isn’t so simple. Minnesota state prosecutors may, in fact, be able to prosecute the federal immigration agent who shot and killed a Minneapolis woman, though the pathway forward would come with special challenges.

State officials announced Jan. 9 that they are collecting evidence surrounding Good’s Jan. 7 death, a signal they may consider bringing charges. The move comes after President Donald Trump and other White House officials suggested the shooting was justified, and state authorities said the FBI pulled out of a joint investigation.

Though the U.S. Department of Justice hasn’t announced whether it will bring charges, the hasty statements by White House officials opposing charges make a federal prosecution seem highly unlikely, especially at a time when the lines between the DOJ and White House are increasingly blurred.

“When you have the president, the vice president, the secretary of homeland security all saying that this was self-defense, there’s zero chance that Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice will move forward with a prosecution at the federal level,” Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told USA TODAY.

At a Jan. 9 news conference, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the top prosecutor for Minneapolis’ Hennepin County, Mary Moriarty, both said they haven’t yet made a charging decision when it comes to Good’s death, and will wait until evidence is evaluated.

Ellison led the state prosecution of Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis cop convicted in 2021 of murdering a Black man who was under arrest, George Floyd. Moriarty was elected in 2022 on a platform of holding police accountable.

Rahmani said he wouldn’t be surprised by a decision to bring charges.

“I think they ultimately will choose to prosecute,” Rahmani said. “Attorney General Ellison’s office has been pretty aggressive in these types of cases, dating back to George Floyd,” he added.

As tensions have flared over the Minneapolis death, federal agents shot and wounded two people during a traffic stop in Portland, Oregon, on Jan. 8. As with the Minnesota case, federal officials said the driver “weaponized his vehicle,” while local officials called for an investigation. Similar questions of potential state charges could arise in that case.

Here’s why Minnesota authorities could pursue state charges, but could also face challenges:

Hurdles to Minnesota prosecuting federal agent

One challenge to Minnesota officials bringing charges is that they would likely have to prosecute the case outside of their home turf. There’s a federal law allowing officers of federal agencies to move their cases to a federal court when they are being prosecuted for something they did as part of their official responsibilities.

That’s a significant disadvantage for state prosecutors, according to Mark Bederow, a criminal defense lawyer in New York City and former Manhattan prosecutor. He noted that, in a federal court, state prosecutors would be dealing with a different pool of potential jurors, a different judge, and different legal processes.

“It’s a road game, instead of having home court advantage,” Bederow said.

In addition, state prosecutors would likely have to meet special legal standards to get the case to trial, because they would be prosecuting a federal agent. In that type of case, defendants often argue they can’t be prosecuted because of a constitutional provision – the Supremacy Clause – that puts federal law above state law.

Federal courts have sometimes blocked state prosecutions under that provision, out of concern that state authorities are using their prosecutorial power to frustrate the federal government from legitimately exercising its own powers, according to Bryna Godar, a staff attorney at the University of Wisconsin Law School’s State Democracy Research Initiative.

Godar wrote in the Lawfare legal publication that federal courts have repeatedly blocked state prosecutions when the federal official was reasonably carrying out lawful federal duties. But, outside those circumstances, courts have allowed the prosecutions to go forward.

“In many cases, the federal officer may ultimately walk away with immunity. But not always,” Godar wrote.

Another potential challenge is courts disagreeing on the exact contours of this type of immunity for federal officers, leaving the law in this area somewhat unsettled, according to Godar. The U.S. Supreme Court hasn’t weighed in on this type of immunity in more than a century.

Murder and manslaughter charges could be in play

Even if state officials do decide charges are warranted, they are unlikely to bring a first-degree murder charge, according to Rahmani. That crime generally requires premeditation.

He said state officials might consider a form of manslaughter or a lesser murder charge, which come with maximum penalties ranging from 10 to 40 years in prison. For example, a person can be guilty of second-degree manslaughter in Minnesota by unreasonably endangering a person’s life or of second-degree murder by intentionally killing someone without premeditation.

“It’s possible that there’s multiple charges and they don’t just land on one, to give jurors really the option,” Rahmani said.

‘Very tough job for prosecutors’

If the ICE agent ended up facing charges, he would likely argue he shot Good in self-defense, former prosecutors told USA TODAY.

Minnesota law allows officers to use deadly force if it’s reasonable for them to believe the force will protect them or another person from great bodily harm.

In this case, the agent may argue that Good appeared to be directing her SUV at him. Trump officials have highlighted video footage from the front of the SUV, saying it shows movement in the agent’s direction. Advocates for Good have pointed to footage from the rear, which shows the vehicle turning as if to pass the agent and get away.

Looking across multiple public videos, which show both Good’s handling of the wheel and the movement of the SUV’s tires, Good is driving simultaneously rightward and forward, as the agent stands towards the left, front side of her car. Then there are three brief sounds that may be bullet shots, one as the agent points his gun at the left side of the front windshield, and then two more as he is pointing at the side window as the car drives away.

Protests have mounted across the country, with many arguing the video shows the shots weren’t reasonable, and protesting what they see as ICE’s aggressive behavior — including towards U.S. citizens such as Good — more generally.

“They are already trying to spin this as an action of self-defense,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said at his Jan. 7 press conference. “Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly – that is bull—-.”

But Bederow said, as emotional as the case is, there is much more to be parsed out in terms of witness interviews and video analysis that could illuminate key legal questions, such as whether it was reasonable for the ICE agent to believe he was in danger.

“Lawyers who do this for a living and have experience in self-defense or justification cases realize that there’s a lot more nuance to this than saying, ‘She didn’t mow the guy down, and he shot and killed her,’” Bederow said.

If he does face charges, the agent might argue that he was operating in a heated environment — he and Good’s wife were filming each other outside the SUV as she asked if he “wanted to come at” them, just seconds before the shooting — and that he didn’t have the luxury of analyzing the direction of the SUV’s movements in a frame-by-frame, slow motion video.

“It’s going to be a very, very tough job for prosecutors, notwithstanding the fact that there is very disturbing video and a woman lost her life,” he said.

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Minnesota

Minnesota Wild Recalls Defenseman David Špaček From Iowa | Minnesota Wild

Published

8 hours ago

January 14, 2026

Press Room

Minnesota Wild Recalls Defenseman David Špaček From Iowa | Minnesota Wild

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled defenseman David Špaček (SPAH-chehk) from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Špaček, 22 (2/18/23), owns 19 points (3-16=19), 61 shots and 10 penalty minutes (PIM) in 35 games with Iowa this season, leading the team in assists (T-12th among AHL defensemen) and ranking second in points and shots. The 6-foot, 190-pound native of Columbus, Ohio, recorded 31 points (4-27=31), 31 PIM and 117 shots in 72 games with Iowa during the 2024-25 season, leading the team with 18 power play assists, ranking second in assists, and pacing team defensemen in scoring. For his career, Špaček owns 62 points (10-52=62), 62 PIM and 251 shots in 168 games over three AHL seasons (2023-26).

Špaček will represent Czechia at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic games and has previously represented Czechia at multiple international competitions, including the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded two assists in eight games, and the 2024 IIHF World Championship, where he posted five assists in 10 games to help Czechia secure gold. He also helped Czechia to a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Tournament, recording eight points (3-5=8), 11 shots and a plus-7 rating in seven games.

Špaček was selected by Minnesota in the fifth round (No. 153 overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft and has yet to appear in an NHL game. He will wear sweater No. 82 with the Wild.

Minnesota will host the Winnipeg Jets tomorrow, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m. CT on FanDuel Sports Network and KFAN FM 100.3.

Minnesota Wild single-game tickets are on sale now at wild.com/tickets, ticketmaster.com and at the Grand Casino Arena Box Office. Flex, 11-Game, half and full season memberships are also available for purchase. Please visit tickets.wild.com or contact a Wild Ticket Sales Representative by calling or texting (651) 222-WILD (9453) for more information. Group reservations of eight or more tickets can contact [email protected] for more information. Single game suite rentals are also available, contact [email protected] for more information.

Follow @mnwildPR on X and visit www.wild.com/pressbox and for the latest news and information from the team including press releases, game notes, player interviews and daily statistics.

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Minnesota

Minnesota Prosecutors Quit, Trump in Detroit, Inflation Report : Up First from NPR

Published

20 hours ago

January 14, 2026

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Minnesota Prosecutors Quit, Trump in Detroit, Inflation Report : Up First from NPR

Veteran federal prosecutors in Minnesota resign after pressure from Justice Department leaders to investigate the widow of Renee Macklin Good, the woman killed by an ICE agent, raising new questions about political interference.
President Trump takes his economic message on the road, pitching affordability as voters remain frustrated by high prices.
And while gas prices have dipped, rising heating costs, grocery prices, and stubborn inflation show why relief still feels out of reach for many families.

Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebekah Metzler, Gigi Douban, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

And our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.

(0:00) Introduction
(02:19) Minnesota Prosecutors Quit
(06:10) Trump in Detroit
(09:52) Inflation Report

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Minnesota

Effort to impeach Kristi Noem backed by Minnesota lawmakers

Published

1 day ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

Effort to impeach Kristi Noem backed by Minnesota lawmakers

Hundreds more ICE agents coming to MN, Noem says

DHS Sec. Kristi Noem says hundreds more ICE agents are coming to Minnesota. They began arriving on Sunday, and more are expected to arrive on Monday. This comes days after an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, and comes amid rising tensions as people protest ICE in Minnesota, demanding they leave.

(FOX 9) – Several Minnesota lawmakers are backing an effort signed by more than 50 Democrats in the House of Representatives to impeach Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem stemming from accusations of obstructing Congress and violating public trust.

Noem impeachment effort

What we know:

A total of 53 House Democrats have co-signed a bill set to be introduced by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (Illinois).

Tensions have risen in the Twin Cities following the shooting of Renee Nicole Good at the hands of ICE officer Jonathan Ross. The shooting has sparked protests across the city, including outside the regional ICE headquarters.

In December, the Trump administration launched Operation Metro Surge, bringing more than 100 federal agents into the Twin Cities.

In January, the Department of Homeland Security launched a new 30-day surge, bringing a reported force of 1,500 ICE officers and 600 Homeland Security investigators into the state with an aim at tackling fraud.

According to Noem, the total has since increased to more than 2,000 agents presently operating within the state.

In the months prior to the focus on Minnesota, the Trump administration also sent additional troops to cities such as Portland, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Dig deeper:

The articles of impeachment that are set to be formally introduced on Jan. 14, 2026, will accuse Noem of three counts:

Obstruction of Congress: Stemming from members of Congress being denied entry to DHS facilities and for withholding congressionally appropriated disaster relief funding.
Violation of public trust: Allegedly denying ICE detainees due process and violating the First and Fourth amendments.
Self-dealing: Stemming from reports that Noem awarded $220 million in contracts to a firm run by her spokesperson’s husband.

What they’re saying:

“Secretary Kristi Noem is an incompetent leader, a disgrace to our democracy, and I am impeaching her for obstruction of justice, violation of public trust, and self-dealing. Secretary Noem wreaked havoc in the Chicagoland area, and now, her rogue ICE agents have unleashed that same destruction in Minneapolis, fatally shooting Renee Nicole Good,” said Rep. Kelly in a statement on her official website. “From Chicago to Charlotte to Los Angeles to Minneapolis, Secretary Noem is violating the Constitution while ruining — and ending — lives and separating families. It’s one thing to be incompetent and dangerous, but it’s impeachable to break the rule of law.”

Minnesota Reps. Angie Craig and Betty McCollum also plan to support the impeachment efforts.

“Secretary Noem should be fired. If she is not, I support impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate for her obstruction of Congress and violation of public trust,” said Rep. McCollum in a statement. “This past year, Americans in cities across the United States have felt the chaos and terror of Secretary Noem’s Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Secretary Noem has demonstrated that she is unable to enforce immigration law in a peaceful and ethical manner. Her deployment of unprofessional, poorly trained, masked immigration agents has put our neighbors in danger of physical harm.”

Minnesota’s Democratic lawmakers, along with mayors Jacob Frey and Kaohly Her, along with Gov. Tim Walz, have also been vocal critics of DHS immigration enforcement efforts in the wake of the shooting of Renee Good.

ImmigrationPoliticsDonald J. TrumpMinnesotaMinneapolis

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