Dear Neighbors,
My heart breaks that I have to write to you all following another tragedy. Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026 during a federal enforcement operation. Her death has deeply shaken our community and sparked calls for accountability, transparency, and justice across the country.
Renee should still be with us today. She was a devoted mother, a compassionate neighbor, and someone whose life mattered deeply to her family and loved ones. The loss of her life is profoundly infuriating and heartbreaking.
We are living through a time of extraordinary challenge. Our communities are hurting, neighborhoods are traumatized, our children carry fear, and even our schools have been forced to adapt in the wake of these events as local leaders and residents grapple with the aftermath.
My heart is with Renee’s family, her friends, her children, and all those who loved her. May we honor her memory by demanding truth, accountability, and the protection of every life in our community—and by working together to heal and strengthen the bonds that hold us together.
After they committed this crime, ICE attacked Minnesotans on school property, and the Trump admin tells us not to believe our eyes as they lie to our faces. As a teacher, the idea of my students being harmed at the hands of masked federal agents makes me appalled. Now, the federal government is blocking Minnesota law enforcement from investigating the killing of Renee Good. It’s a standard practice for state and local law enforcement to be able to collaborate on investigations, especially in situations like this where the local community is disrupted.
I was happy to join my fellow education leaders in issuing the following statement: ICE’s chaos has no place in Minnesota’s schools. As federal actions continue to undermine the security and learning environment in classrooms across the state, students are missing out on critical educational milestones.
We have made strong investments in the mental health of our students, critical support staff, and in improving school attendance. And just as we are starting to see the results of those investments, ICE’s presence in our school communities has taken us steps back. ICE has no place in our schools or interfering with our students’ education.
This decision means Minnesota law enforcement is pushed out, unable to review any evidence or facts, and aren’t able to represent Minnesota at the table. We need a thorough, independent investigation they can trust. Our BCA agents are nonpartisan, career professionals that have spent years building the community’s trust.
There are many reports (often with video) showing ICE’s unlawful use of force, detainment without cause, and violations of Minnesotan’s First and Fourth Amendment rights. Many of these abuses were described today when dozens of members of Congress came to Minnesota from across the country for a hearing about the administration’s attack on Minnesota. You can view the entire hearing here.
It is very difficult to make sense of any of this. But I do know that it is intolerable. You can get involved, you can be part of the solution. Here is a toolkit with information relating to knowing civil rights, legal assistance, emergency contacts, advocacy and community support, and numerous other resources. Whatever action you decide to take, please stay safe, please do not resort to anger and violence, and please care for your neighbors and loved ones.
Stay in Touch
Please feel free to reach out to me by email at rep.josiah.hill@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-4124. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here, and follow my Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent our community. Please stay in touch!
Sincerely,
Josiah Hill, District 33B
5th Floor, Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar St. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155