Justice Department officials said on Jan. 13 there is "no basis" for an investigation into the killing ofRenee Nicole Good, the mother of three whose fatal shooting by an immigration enforcement agent sparkedprotestsacross the country.
"There is currently no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation," Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement referring to Good.
The 37-year-old was fatally shot on Jan. 7 in Minneapolis, Minnesota by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agentJonathan Ross, when she moved her car forward near the ICE agent. Her death has inspired widespreadprotestsagainst the Trump administration's militarized use of the Department of Homeland Security.
President Donald Trumpdefended Ross, saying it was "hard to believe" the officer survived. Top administration officials say the controversial crackdown on immigration enforcement is necessary to root out foreign-born criminals from the country. Homeland Security's deployment to Minnesota came in response tomassive fraudin social welfare programs officials say is tied toSomali immigrants.
Good's killing and widely circulatedfootage of the incidentstirred immediate outrage. Prominent Democrats called for Ross to be arrested and moved to impeachHomeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. A new national poll conducted in the days after the shooting found that over half of American voters thought the shooting wasunjustified.
Blanche without elaboration said the killing does not merit a Department of Justice investigation. Agency spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests to comment on what would provide a basis for an investigation.
The Department of Justice is insteadmoving to investigateGood's widow, according to reporting by outlets includingThe New York TimesandNBC News. Acting U.S. Attorney of Minnesota Joe Thompson, who was appointed to investigate the state's fraud scandal, and other federal prosecutorsresignedin protest.
DOJ spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether it would prosecute Good's widow.
People confront an agent in an ICE vehicle near the regional ICE headquarters at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building on January 10, 2026 in Minneapolis. Protests in the city continued Saturday after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot and killed on January 7 by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-MN) (L), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) (C), and Rep. Angie Craig (R) hold a press conference outside of the regional ICE headquarters at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building on January 10, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar and Annie Craig had their access to a federal detention facility revoked while touring the building in Minneapolis where the Department of Homeland Security has been headquartering operations in the state." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
People gather near were a 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on January 10, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
People gather at a makeshift memorial for 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on January 10, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
See anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis after Renee Good's fatal shooting
People confront an agent in an ICE vehicle near the regional ICE headquarters at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building on January 10, 2026 in Minneapolis.Protests in the city continued Saturdayafter the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot and killed on January 7 by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'No basis' for investigation into ICE shooting of Minn. woman: DOJ
