Gov. Phil Murphy condemned the fatal shooting of a Minnesota woman by federal immigration enforcement officers earlier this week, calling the incident “horrifying, deplorable, despicable” on Thursday.
Renee Good, a mother of three, was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during a protest in Minnesota on Wednesday. The circumstances surrounding the shooting have sparked a political firestorm, drawing sharp criticism from Democratic leaders and renewed scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics.
Speaking at a bill signing event at Ramsey High School, Murphy called the video of the incident “appalling.”
“I don’t care what the circumstances, none of what I’ve seen remotely merited this woman losing her life,” Murphy said.
The Trump administration said the officer fired in self-defense as Good maneuvered her vehicle away from agents. Officials have characterized Good as a threat, alleging she posed a danger during the confrontation.
But Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz strongly disputed that account, accusing the Trump administration of spreading misinformation.
“I’ve seen the video,” Walz said on X, formerly Twitter. “Don’t believe this propaganda machine.”
Trump administration officials painted Good as a domestic terrorist who attempted to ram federal agents with her car. Her ex-husband said she was no activist and that he had never known her to participate in a protest of any kind.
Walz vowed the state would do an investigation. Since then the FBI has announced that it will take over the investigation.
Murphy’s comments about the shooting came as New Jersey lawmakers are debating a package of bills aimed at limiting state cooperation with ICE and federal immigration enforcement in New Jersey.
The legislation, which has been in the works for months, would restrict local agencies from assisting in ICE operations — a move supporters say is necessary to protect immigrant communities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
