The United Nations has joined growing international concern over the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. federal immigration officer in Minneapolis, demanding a swift, transparent, and independent investigation into the incident.
Good was shot dead on January 7, 2026, by an agent from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a federal enforcement action in south Minneapolis. The deadly encounter, captured on video and widely shared online, has sparked protests in Minneapolis and across the United States.
“Under international human rights law, the intentional use of lethal force is only permissible as a measure of last resort against an individual representing an imminent threat to life,” said Jeremy Laurence, spokesman for the UN rights office, in Geneva, emphasising the need for accountability.
The UN rights office also noted that the FBI is leading an investigation, but called for that inquiry to be prompt, independent and transparent. Laurence urged authorities to take measures to reduce tensions and avoid incitement to violence amid widespread public outrage.
The fatal shooting occurred during a broader federal immigration enforcement operation that has drawn criticism from local officials and civil rights groups. Local authorities and community leaders have disputed the federal government’s account that Good posed a threat, saying footage shows her vehicle turning away from the officer before she was shot.
Good’s death has prompted protests, vigils, and further legal action. Minnesota’s Attorney General has filed a lawsuit challenging the large deployment of immigration agents in the state, alleging unconstitutional behaviour by federal authorities in the wake of the shooting.
The incident has also reignited nationwide debate over the use of force by federal immigration agents and broader immigration enforcement tactics, with civil rights advocates calling for clearer oversight and stricter accountability.
