Over the past few months, citizens across the world have watched the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials take reign over the most populated cities in the country.
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security. Its stated mission is to conduct criminal investigations, enforce immigration laws, preserve national security, and protect public safety.
Each day, social media has presented new perspectives and stories regarding ICE. Whether it is a new victim of the violence taking place due to these agents or the new tactics they are bringing to the streets, ICE activity is being closely monitored by the citizens of the US. So far, ICE has deported over 540,000 people since Trump took office for his second presidential term in January 2025.
On January 7, 2026, a 37-year-old woman named Renèe Good of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was shot multiple times by ICE agent Jonathan Ross and died shortly afterward. Good was in her car, stopped sideways in the street, when Ross walked around it and then walked towards the back of her vehicle. Other agents approached, and one ordered her to get out of the car while reaching through her open window. Good briefly reversed, then began moving forward and to the right, into the direction of traffic. At this point, Ross was standing at the front-left of the vehicle and fired three shots, killing her, as her vehicle passed him, turning away from him.
The killing of Renèe Good was extremely publicized. Multiple recorded perspectives were posted to social media, and the true story of her death was brought to the world. Good’s murder has sparked anger across the country and led to calls for reform in Minneapolis and beyond.
On January 24th, 2026, Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti was killed by US Border Control officers. This was another heavily recorded and publicized incident. Alex Pretti was seen recording an interaction between an agent and another citizen. Seconds later, a federal officer repeatedly pepper-sprayed Pretti and then appeared to pull him into the street. Pretti was pinned to the street and repeatedly hit by agents while one agent secured Pretti’s legally carried weapon. Although completely subdued by the agents, Alex Pretti was shot ten times by two different agents.
Large cities such as Minneapolis have been deeply affected by the strict reign ICE has over the people. Entire cities are grieving the losses that are being brought on by ICE officials due to both heavy deportation and murder.
On January 23rd, 2026, Wael Tarabishi, a 30-year-old disabled man, died after his condition declined following his father’s detainment in October, 2025. Maher Tarabishi, Wael’s father, was the sole caregiver of Wael and a longtime United States resident with no criminal record who consistently paid his taxes and faithfully attended his immigration check-ins.
On January 15th, two men were taken into custody by ICE in Princeton during drop-off at an elementary school, including a 40-year-old father of four. ICE did not notify any municipalities or the local police department about this raid. Thousands of families are being torn apart, and so are our cities.
Outrage is sparking across the country, and many people are working tirelessly with our local government to ensure that our communities are safe. Protests are taking place in hundreds of cities, and there are many support lines and places to report ICE sightings while you are in public.
If you are approached by ICE agents, it is important to know what to do. Make sure you have your family’s contact information memorized in preparation for the worst-case scenario. Defend your rights; all people in the United States have constitutional protections, including the right to remain silent when questioned or arrested by immigration officers. Stay calm and don’t run, argue, resist, or fight the official, even if you believe your rights are being violated or you are being treated unfairly. Keep your hands where agents can see them.
To locate a detainee, use the website Online Detainee Locator System.
To report ICE behavior, use the website set up by the State of NJ Federal Misconduct Reporting Portal – New Jersey Office of Attorney General.
