The family of Renee Good filed two federal civil lawsuits on Thursday, October 1, 2026, against the U.S. government and several current and former officials. The legal actions follow the January 7 killing of the 37-year-old mother by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, Jonathan Ross, during a federal enforcement operation in Minneapolis. The family alleges wrongful death, conspiracy, and excessive use of force, seeking unspecified damages.
The shooting occurred during "Operation Metro Surge," a federal immigration crackdown. At the time of the event, federal officials stated that the officer involved acted in self-defense and characterized Good’s actions as an act of domestic terrorism. The lawsuit, however, claims the operation was an unconstitutional and racially motivated conspiracy.
According to the lawsuits and bystander video, Good was driving her SUV with her partner, Becca Good, when they encountered federal agents conducting an operation. Good stopped her vehicle and honked her horn, while her partner began recording on a cellphone. The video shows an officer ordering Good to exit the vehicle; as she steered the car away from him, the officer fired into the windshield and then fired twice more through the driver's side window. The family's attorney, Antonio Romanucci, stated that the government sought to hide evidence and prioritized political narratives over a civil rights investigation.
The litigation names several figures as defendants, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and border czar Tom Homan. Other defendants include Corey Lewandowski, former ICE acting director Todd Lyons, and former U.S. Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, along with 10 unnamed agents. Brent Ganger, Good’s brother, said at a news conference that the lack of internal investigation or policy changes since the shooting was "mind blowing." He and Good's mother also testified before a joint Senate and House committee approximately one week prior to the filing.
The family seeks accountability for the death of Renee Good, a mother of three. The lawsuits highlight a broader pattern reported by the family's counsel: at least 10 people have died in encounters with immigration officers during the current presidential term.
Operation Metro Surge involved thousands of ICE and immigration officers deployed to the streets of Minneapolis. The family is seeking unspecified monetary damages for wrongful death. The lawsuits seek to establish a precedent regarding the constitutionality of large-scale "surge" operations and the legal protections afforded to bystanders and participants who document these federal actions on public streets.
These cases may influence pending litigation filed by more than a dozen states and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul against the federal government's immigration policies. The Justice Department and the individual defendants must now file formal responses to the allegations. The White House and DHS have not yet issued public comments on the specific claims in the lawsuits.