Editor’s note: This article contains content related to death and violence. Additionally, some sources have been named under pseudonymsand first names for safety and privacy concerns.
Sunlight beamed on the intersection of Ocean and Water streets as over a thousand people flooded the sidewalks in response to the death of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot and killed by an ICE officer on Jan. 7 in Minneapolis.
The Santa Cruz “ICE out for Good” rally on Jan. 11 came less than a week after the fatal shooting, joining the wave of nationwide protests that ensued after Good’s death.
Organized by Indivisible Santa Cruz County, rally participants coalesced in strong opposition to ICE and the mass deportation efforts carried out by the Trump administration since assuming office last January.
The rally began shortly after noon, growing steadily and reaching its peak at 2 p.m. as participants filled all four corners of the intersection. Many carried handmade signs imbued with phrases like “ICE cold killers” and “who gave guns to those clowns?”
Protestors cross Ocean Street carrying handmade signs as drivers honk their horns in solidarity.
“My grandfather illegally immigrated from Mexico, and I would not be here if he hadn’t,” said Mia, a participant and new Santa Cruz resident. “I have a lot of pride in being Mexican and Mexican American, and to see this administration be an openly fascist regime is absolutely repulsive and I do not stand for it. I don’t think anybody should.”
Good’s death sparked outrage across the country following the release of video footage documenting the shooting from multiple angles. Substantial video evidence prompted both media outlets and news consumers to dissect every second leading up to the shooting.
“I’m very angry. I’m angry and I’m scared,” said Rebeca Escobedo, administration and programs coordinator for Senderos, a local nonprofit serving the Latine community. “I’m an immigrant to the community as well, and if this can happen to white people that are citizens, it can happen to anyone.”
Since Jan. 7, President Donald Trump has adamantly defended Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who killed Good. Within hours after the shooting, he contended in a statement on Truth Social that Good “violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense.”
Vice President JD Vance weighed in from the White House briefing room on Jan. 8, claiming that Good’s death was a “tragedy of her own making, and a tragedy of the far left who has marshaled an entire movement; a lunatic fringe against our law enforcement officers.”
Gretchen Reyes, a volunteer for Indivisible Santa Cruz County, expressed dismay towards the Trump administration’s subsequent reaction.
“My reaction is, ‘are you kidding me?’” Reyes said. “We all see it with our own eyes. We know what happened, and it needs to be held accountable. They’re rushing these people into the streets with very little training in high-intensity situations, and these things are going to keep happening if they don’t stop.”
ICE recently announced an expansion of their workforce by 120 percent after hiring more than 12,000 officers and employees within four months, meanwhile reducing training time from 16 weeks to just six. The cutback has enabled ICE to accelerate its deportation efforts with less experienced personnel.
“They’re not giving them training to be respectful,” said Anina Van Alstine, a real estate broker based in Santa Cruz. “They’re training them to be murderers.”
Video footage published from Jonathan Ross’ phone reveals the disturbing aftermath of the shooting. After three shots ring out, Good’s car loses control and veers into a row of cars parked on the street. The audio picks up on an unknown ICE officer exclaiming the words, “fucking bitch.”
To Santa Cruz resident S. Sparrow, the vulgar utterance reflects a broader culture of sexism.
“I think that’s something that so many women have heard from a man, and collectively, we all felt that shot together,” they said. “And today, our country is mourning.”
The beginning of Ross’ video unveils some of Good’s last words, which echoed throughout a myriad of signs displayed at the Jan. 11 rally: “That’s fine, dude. I’m not mad at you.”
“She was compliant. She wanted to help,” said Hunter Chiang, a participant and local preschool teacher. “She was not hostile at all, and an ICE officer was offended by it and decided to kill her … it’s extremely disgusting that we are letting that pass.”
This is not the first time someone has died at the hands of ICE officers. In 2025 alone, a reported 32 victims died while in ICE custody, making it the deadliest year of immigration enforcement in two decades.
The Santa Cruz community’s denunciation of ICE and the Trump administration persisted well into the afternoon. By 2:45 p.m., hundreds of participants still remained at the intersection.
A protestor raises a homemade sign while dancing on top of their van, which they did for the majority of the rally.
“It’s absolutely amazing to know that you’re not the only one that feels this sense of duty to our country, this sense of love and support for Good and for those who have been unjustifiably murdered by ICE agents,” Chiang said.
“I’m always scared, but I’m hopeful,” she continued. “At the end of the day, that’s all you need. Just hope.”
