ICE instructed agents to be ready to take ‘decisive action’ weeks before Minneapolis shooting

Weeks before a driver was fatally shot in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, ICE officials sent guidance telling agents to remain vigilant and be “prepared to take appropriate and decisive action should you be faced with an imminent threat.” The Dec. 12 email, viewed by The Times, noted an increase in protest activity and threats against officers and reminded staff to “maintain a heightened sense of awareness of your surroundings” and to call 911 in an emergency.

It was signed by Marcos Charles, head of Enforcement and Removal Operations for ICE, and included the line, “I have full faith and confidence that each of you possess the training and knowledge to exercise the appropriate response.” The guidance came amid a pattern of confrontations as the Trump administration stepped up immigration enforcement in cities; protesters have yelled expletives, blown whistles, thrown snowballs and blocked ICE vehicles, and officers have at times responded violently.

Federal officials said the Minnesota woman killed, Renee Nicole Good, 37, was part of a protest and had tried to ram an officer when he fired. A New York Times analysis of bystander video found her car appeared to be turning away, and local officials called the official narrative false.

Federal officials also reported another shooting in Portland when U.S. Border Patrol agents opened fire after a driver tried to run over agents, a Homeland Security Department spokeswoman said.

Key Topics

Politics, Ice, Marcos Charles, Renee Nicole Good, Minneapolis, U.s. Border Patrol