Donna Ganger, the mother of Renee Good, a 37-year-old American citizen fatally shot by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis in January, said Tuesday that she voted for President Trump but believed federal immigration agents would “protect” Americans. Instead, she said, her family has been left to grapple with an unfathomable loss.
“It’s torture that as a mom and as a family, we could not protect Renee,” Ganger said during a public forum hosted by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.). “But no one can protect against others who are determined to disregard our country’s constitutional rules and values.”
Ganger, who identified herself as a registered Republican, said she voted for Trump under the impression that immigration officers would safeguard U.S. citizens from threats like terrorism—not turn their fire on innocent civilians. “Certainly not to accuse those of us here of being terrorists and take precious lives,” she added.
The shooting occurred on Jan. 7 when an ICE officer confronted Good, a mother of one, in Minneapolis. The officer’s cellphone video shows Good turning her car away from the officer before he fired multiple shots, killing her. The Trump administration initially characterized the incident as an act of “domestic terrorism,” with then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stating, “This was an act of domestic terrorism.”
The video, however, contradicts that narrative, showing Good attempting to drive away rather than attack. The incident, along with the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents Raymundo Gutierrez and Jesus Ochoa later that month, has fueled public outrage over the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.
Blumenthal, who has been vocal on the issue, said Congress “must hold” ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “accountable” for deaths involving federal personnel. “Totally unacceptable that there has been no real investigation into DHS/ICE related deaths & injuries,” he wrote on X.
The Hill has reached out to DHS, ICE, and CBP for updates on the investigations into the deaths of Good and Pretti. The lack of transparency has drawn criticism from lawmakers and civil rights groups, who argue that federal agents must be held to the same standards as local law enforcement.
Ganger’s testimony underscores a growing rift among Trump voters who supported his immigration policies but are now questioning the human cost. Her plea for accountability comes amid broader scrutiny of the administration’s enforcement actions, including lawmakers demanding an end to deadly operations.
The case has also intensified calls for independent oversight of federal immigration agencies, with some lawmakers pushing for legislation to ensure that such incidents are thoroughly investigated and that families receive answers.
As the political fallout continues, Ganger’s message resonates with many who feel betrayed by the very institutions they believed would protect them. “We trusted these agents to keep us safe,” she said. “Instead, we lost our daughter.”
