Anti-ICE Protests Spread Nationwide
📅 January 11, 2026
✍️ Editor: Sudhir Choudhary, The Vagabond News
Protests opposing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement have expanded across the United States following the fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident, by an ICE agent during a federal enforcement action earlier this month. Demonstrations that began in Minneapolis have grown into nationwide mobilizations, drawing thousands of participants under banners such as “ICE Out For Good” and spotlighting broader grievances over immigration enforcement policies and law enforcement accountability.
In cities from Minneapolis and Portland to Boston, New York City, Durham, and Raleigh, activists, community members, and civil rights groups took to the streets over the weekend to voice outrage at the shooting and demand changes in federal immigration operations. Many protesters have called for systemic reforms, including the abolition of ICE, greater transparency in enforcement practices, and thorough investigations into the circumstances surrounding Good’s death.
Coordinated Nationwide Mobilization
Organizers with national coalitions including Indivisible, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and other advocacy groups coordinated more than 1,000 demonstrations across states, according to protest planners. These events—part of what participants are calling an “ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action”—are aimed at confronting what they characterize as a pattern of excessive force and unchecked authority by federal immigration agents.
In Minneapolis, where the incident occurred, tens of thousands of demonstrators filled streets and public squares, many chanting “Abolish ICE” and “Justice for Renée Good,” while holding signs condemning federal law enforcement actions. Similar scenes unfolded in other metropolitan areas, with participants urging elected officials to prioritize immigrant rights and civil liberties.
Peaceful Rallies and Local Vigils
In Boston, hundreds gathered at City Hall Plaza and Boston Common to mourn Good and to protest immigration enforcement practices. Speakers at the rally urged Massachusetts lawmakers to dissociate local law enforcement from ICE operations and to pursue legislative reforms. Boston police reported no arrests, and the assembly remained peaceful.
Across North Carolina, demonstrators in cities including Durham and Raleigh joined broader national efforts to protest against ICE following both the Minneapolis and Portland shootings. Such local participation underscores how the movement has transcended regional boundaries, resonating with diverse communities concerned about federal policing and immigrant protection.
Ongoing Tensions and Law Enforcement Response
While many of the protests remained orderly, law enforcement reported some confrontations in Minneapolis, where officers cited thrown snow, ice, and objects during demonstrations, leading to several citations and detentions. Minneapolis officials nonetheless praised the largely peaceful nature of the broader protests and appealed for restraint and dialogue.
Federal and local leaders have taken varied stances on the demonstrations. National political figures have weighed in, with some condemning the protests and others expressing support for accountability and reform. Congressional debate has intensified, with lawmakers calling for investigations into ICE practices and broader immigration enforcement policies.
Nationwide Significance
The scale of the demonstrations reflects deepening national tensions over immigration policy and civil liberties. Protesters argue that Good’s death, and similar incidents in other states, illustrate systemic issues within enforcement agencies that disproportionately affect immigrant communities and undermine public trust. Critics of the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement have seized on the protests as evidence of growing public dissatisfaction.
Supporters of immigration enforcement contend that federal agents must operate under conditions that involve personal risk, and they emphasize the need for due process in reviewing both the shooting and the protests that followed. As protests continue, calls for transparency, accountability, and policy reform have become central themes in the national discourse.
Sources: TIME, Reuters, ABC News, WTVB, national protest coordination data
Tags: Immigration Enforcement, ICE Protests, Renee Good, Civil Rights, Nationwide Demonstrations
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