Chicago Police Chief Calls Out Dems Labeling Minn. ICE Shooting Illegal

The fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renée Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday has ignited sharp reactions nationwide, with Democrats and progressive activists clashing with law enforcement officials who say the officer acted to protect lives during a rapidly escalating encounter.

Federal authorities have stated the ICE officer fired after Good’s vehicle moved toward agents during an active law enforcement operation, a conclusion backed by Department of Homeland Security leadership. Critics — largely Democratic local officials and members of Good’s family — have disputed that account, arguing the use of deadly force was unjustified.

The incident has intensified a broader national debate over ICE operations and use-of-force standards, with commentary ranging from demands for federal investigations to assertions that the officer’s actions were legally and tactically sound. Current and former law enforcement professionals have also weighed in, emphasizing how such encounters are evaluated inside policing and federal enforcement circles.

One of the most widely shared responses came from Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling, whose remarks during a Fox News segment circulated widely on the social media platform X on Thursday.

Although Snelling did not address the Minneapolis shooting directly, he spoke in general terms about the dangers faced by law enforcement officers and pushed back forcefully against what he described as dangerous misinformation.

Snelling first rejected the increasingly common claim that ICE agents are not legitimate law enforcement officers.

“Federal agents — ICE, HSI — are officers. They are agents of law enforcement,” he said during a press briefing.

“If you box them in with vehicles, it is reasonable for them to believe that they are being ambushed, and that this could end in a deadly situation. And it’s reasonable for them to use force based on those conditions. Do not box in any law enforcement officer,” he continued.

“You are breaking the law when you do that, and you are putting yourself in danger,” he said.

Snelling also warned against following or surveilling law enforcement officers during operations, noting the inherent threat such behavior poses.

“Following law enforcement agents around — the question is why? What do you plan on doing? It’s also reasonable for them to believe that you are eventually going to do harm to them,” he said.

Addressing the use of vehicles as weapons, Snelling was unequivocal.

“If you ram any vehicle, especially that one that contains law enforcement agents, and that’s any law enforcement — local, state, federal, county — and you do this intentionally, this is considered deadly force. Deadly force is anything that can cause great bodily harm or death,” the Chicago police superintendent said.

Snelling’s comments came after Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal drew widespread criticism for claiming during a public press conference that ICE agents were “fake” and “phony,” and for vowing to arrest them while they perform their duties.

According to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, as reported by the New York Post, Good had been following ICE agents throughout the day, “stalking and impeding” federal officers during their work.

Noem also said Friday that she would continue standing firmly with law enforcement as protests targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers spread across the country.

“I want to take a moment to express how thankful I am every single day for the men and women who put on the badge and put their lives on the line to protect the American people,” Noem said on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. “With more than 80,000 officers and agents, our Department is the largest law enforcement agency in the federal government.”

Noem encouraged Americans to show appreciation for officers in simple, tangible ways.

“We recognize the sacrifice you and your families make to protect and serve the American people and our great country. President Trump and I will always stand with you,” she said. “Please take some time today to thank an officer or agent today. Make them a meal, buy them a cup of coffee, or simply thank them. To every officer who puts on the badge each day: thank you. Your service is paramount to our nation’s safety.”

The Department of Homeland Security has warned that hostility toward federal officers is rising at an alarming rate, citing a 1,300% increase in assaults, a 3,200% spike in vehicular assaults, and an 8,000% surge in death threats against its personnel.

As President Donald J. Trump’s administration continues to enforce federal immigration law and back law enforcement without apology, the Minneapolis shooting has become a flashpoint in a larger cultural and political struggle over public safety, the rule of law, and whether federal officers will be allowed to do their jobs without being demonized.