Renée Good’s family files two lawsuits against US government and Trump officials — BBC News

The family of 37-year-old US citizen Renée Good, who was shot dead by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis in January, announced two lawsuits against the US government and officials in President Donald Trump’s administration. The lawsuits were filed by the deceased woman’s brother, Brent Genger, and her partner, Becca Good, BBC News reports.

The family’s claims

In one of the lawsuits, the family holds the US government responsible for Good’s death. According to the family’s lawyer, the immigration operation created in Minneapolis an “unprecedented environment for state-sanctioned violence”.

The lawsuit accuses the government of the use of force, assault, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence, which, the plaintiffs claim, caused Good’s death. The document cites the Federal Tort Claims Act, which allows citizens to seek compensation for injury, death or property damage caused by the negligence of federal employees.

Lawsuit against officials

The second lawsuit is directed against ICE officer Jonathan Ross, who shot Good, as well as White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, White House border coordinator Tom Homan and others. The plaintiffs allege a conspiracy to interfere with civil rights.

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Becca Good spoke publicly for the first time following her partner’s death. She said that “the whole world had to watch as our entire universe was destroyed” and mentioned the impact of the tragedy on the family’s three children.

White House spokesperson Lauren Bies called the lawsuits “baseless” and said the government would vigorously defend against them. President Trump initially blamed Good’s death on her actions, and later called her death a tragedy and said that agents can sometimes make mistakes.

Circumstances of the death

Renée Good was shot on 7 January during a vehicle stop. Immigration authorities said she had tried to kill or injure agents, but witnesses disputed this. Her death sparked protests, which intensified after another Minneapolis resident, Alex Pretti, died on 24 January during an encounter with immigration agents.

According to the Associated Press, at least 10 people have died during interactions with immigration officers during Trump’s second presidential term, which began in January 2025.