NEW YORK - Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reaffirmed her position that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who killed Renee Nicole Good, 37, who was shot in Minneapolis, acted in self-defense, claiming it was an act of “domestic terrorism.” At a press conference in New York, Noem stated that the immigration officer followed training protocols. “This is an experienced officer who followed his training, and we will continue to allow the investigation to proceed around this individual and follow the procedures and policies that apply in these use-of-force cases,” the official said. Noem insisted that the victim, Renee Nicole Good, had been following and harassing ICE agents while they were conducting police operations in the area, which is not recorded in the videos that documented Good's killing. Noem reiterated that Good used his vehicle “as a weapon” and that he tried to run over the agent, despite dozens of civil organizations and leaders in Minnesota claiming that Good never tried to run over the immigration officer, but rather to move from the area when he received the shootings.

“I would say that when these individuals use their vehicles to try to ram our law enforcement officers and endanger their lives, that officer must make the decision to protect their life and the lives of those around them,” Noem said.

The investigation into the events in Minneapolis will be handled by the FBI, although state authorities are considering parallel actions.

Regarding operations across the country, Noem stated that 2.6 million undocumented immigrants have been expelled, but two million have done so voluntarily – without offering a statistical breakdown – while more than 600,000 have been deported.

What was the purpose of Noem's trip to New York?

Secretary Noem held a press conference this Thursday at the federal offices in One World Trade Center,where he began by talking about operations against members of the Trinitarios gang, several of whom are linked to the July 2025 shooting of an off-duty Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent. “We have arrested 54 people as part of Operation Salvo since its inception just a few months ago,” Noem stated. “Those arrested are members of violent transnational gangs and affiliates of the Trinitarios, responsible for arms trafficking, human trafficking, narcotics distribution, and armed robberies. They had perpetrated previous violent attacks throughout New York City.”

A Message for Mamdani

The official criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for criticizing ICE over the killing of Renee Nicole Good.

“As ICE attacks our neighbors across America, it is an attack on all of us,” Mamdani said.

For Noem, Mamdani sided with the “illegal immigrants,” as she called them, not the citizens of New York.

A Message for Mamdani

The official criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for criticizing ICE over the killing of Renee Nicole Good.

“As ICE attacks our neighbors across America, it is an attack on all of us,” Mamdani said.

For Noem, Mamdani sided with “illegal immigrants,” as she called them, not New York citizens.

A Message for Mamdani

The official criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for criticizing ICE over the killing of Renee Nicole Good.

“As ICE attacks our neighbors across America, it is an attack on all of us,” Mamdani said.

For Noem, Mamdani sided with “illegal immigrants,” as she called them, not New York citizens.

“We have a responsibility to lay out the facts to enforce the law. Your mayor just said in that statement that he would support undocumented people who have already broken the law,” Noem stated. “He was elected to protect the people who live here, who had the opportunity to vote for him and to live in this city. They pay their taxes, they go to work every day.” He expressed confidence, however, that there would be collaboration with Mamdani, noting that the mayor had a meeting with President Trump at the White House. “I know that he and the president had a productive conversation. Our communication at the Department of Homeland Security has not been productive with the mayor's office or the NYPD, but we want to continue those conversations so we can work together,” he explained.