Minneapolis ICE incidents intensify Democratic debate ahead of 2026 midterms

Scenes in Minneapolis — including the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, protests and an episode in which a man shouted "I'm a U.S. citizen!" as federal agents detained him — have intensified debate about immigration enforcement and its potential role in the 2026 midterm elections.

Reporters Jenny Medina and Lisa Lerer told Katie Glueck that most Democrats view the Trump administration as being "far too aggressive" with enforcement. Some activists and officials are renewing calls to "Abolish ICE," while others worry that message could backfire politically, with moderates comparing it to the "Defund the Police" debate.

Minnesota officials have urged protesters to demonstrate peacefully. The Trump administration and local officials are in dispute over what happened in the chaotic moments before Good was shot, and the situation remains rapidly evolving, the writers said. Democratic candidates in purple districts are generally avoiding full-throated calls to eliminate ICE, instead saying the country needs a "secure" border and then criticizing aggressive ICE tactics as making cities less safe, Lisa Lerer said.

Medina noted that competitive House districts in the Southwest with large Hispanic populations that swung toward Trump could help decide control of the House, and that the issue could also factor into Senate and governor races in places such as North Carolina and Georgia.

Key Topics

Politics, Ice, Renee Good, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Abolish Ice