Wednesday’s killing of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother and poet in Minneapolis, by an ICE agent is tragic and deeply disquieting. Good leaves behind a young daughter who will now live with the lifelong pain of this traumatic event.
The Trump administration has launched another major immigration sweep—this time targeting the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul—with 2,000 ICE agents aggressively operating in an effort to root out suspected undocumented immigrants. Such enforcement actions are creating a climate of fear and distrust that is provoking anger and, at times, irrational responses among American citizens.
In 2025, the Trump administration significantly escalated ICE enforcement in several major U.S. cities. Los Angeles saw large-scale raids supported by federal troops, triggering protests and widespread unrest. Chicago and Houston also became major hotspots, with thousands of arrests reported. San Francisco and Portland, despite their sanctuary-city status, experienced intensified enforcement and sustained protests. Minneapolis, in particular, saw a large ICE operation that sparked deep community concern.
These unprecedented immigration crackdowns over the past year have created an unsustainable atmosphere of fear and distrust—one that stands in direct opposition to the nation’s founding ideals of life, liberty, and justice for all.
What’s a Good Citizen to Do?
In the face of aggressive ICE enforcement, it is essential for citizens to know their rights.
ICE agents operate under specific legal limitations. For example, they are not permitted to enter houses of worship to make arrests unless they possess a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Local community organizations can provide additional guidance and up-to-date information about these protections.
Citizens should also contact their members of Congress and U.S. senators to voice their concerns. Elected officials serve at the will of the people, and Americans have the right to say they do not wish to live in a society defined by fear and distrust of law enforcement authorities.
Exercising First Amendment rights through peaceful protest is another vital civic response. Such demonstrations must remain nonviolent. Participating in lawful protest can be both empowering and restorative, offering a sense of agency and solidarity in the pursuit of justice.
Finally, for people of faith, prayer remains a powerful act of citizenship. Scripture teaches that “the prayer of the righteous availeth much,” affirming the belief that God hears and responds to earnest, faithful prayer. While injustice may flourish for a season, passages such as Psalm 37 remind us that evil is temporary and will fade like grass in the field. Those who seek justice are called to trust in the Lord, confident that justice—like the dawn—will rise at its appointed time.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Donald E. Williams is a United Methodist pastor and Duke University graduate. He completed his doctorate at Duke University in 2022 and is the author of An Investigation Into the Relationship Between Aristotelian Eudaimonia and Christian Discipleship: A Thomistic Perspective, Wipf and Stock Publishers. His website is https://www.virtuespromise.com/.
Newsletter: https://donaldewilliams.substack.com/publish/posts
