On January 7, 2026, Renee Nicole Good, a mother, poet, spouse, and neighbor, was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in south Minneapolis. She was observing a federal immigration enforcement operation in her neighborhood protecting her neighbors when an agent opened fire.
Good’s death is not an isolated tragedy. It is the result of an escalating federal crackdown that has targeted immigrant communities across major cities including Minneapolis-St. Paul, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago. In Minnesota alone, nearly 2,000 federal agents have been deployed in what officials are calling the “largest immigration enforcement operation ever,” creating a climate of fear that has fractured families and traumatized entire communities.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders know this story. Many in our communities are immigrants or children of immigrants and refugees who have faced exclusion, detention, and violence justified by false narratives of criminality. Asian Americans make up the largest immigrant population of any racial group in the Twin Cities. These are the communities and families who have been terrorized by federal officials including the largest deportation operation of Southeast Asians in recent memory. Last year, 160 Southeast Asians were quietly deported on a single flight. We refuse to accept rhetoric that paints community members as threats to excuse state violence. We reject the criminalization of our neighbors.
AAPIP was recently in Minneapolis–St. Paul for CHANGE Philanthropy’s Unity Summit, where we connected with the vibrant, resilient people of the Twin Cities. We have deep affection for Minnesota and profound respect for the organizing work happening there. AAPIP stands in solidarity with Minnesota’s immigrant and refugee communities, with Renee Nicole Good’s family and loved ones, and with all those who are organizing to protect one another.
We call on philanthropy and anyone reading this to:
- Support frontline organizations in MN led by and serving impacted communities. If you’re able, we encourage you to donate to one of these AANHPI-led and serving nonprofits in Minnesota (this is not an exhaustive list):
- MN8
- CAPI
- Transforming Generations
- Filipinx for Immigrant Rights and Racial Justice Minnesota (FIRM)
- Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC)
- Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
- Coalition of Asian American Leaders
- SEWA-AIFW
- The Urban Village
- CAIR-MN
- Asian Economic Development Association (AEDA)
- Hmong American Partnership (HAP/HND)
- Vietnamese Social Services of MN
- Cambodian American Partnership of MN
- Center the voices and leadership of those most directly impacted by these operations
- Reject false narratives that dehumanize and criminalize immigrant communities
- Use your platforms and resources to protect immigrants and uplift the allies who defend them.
Renee Nicole Good believed in protecting her neighbors. She showed up with fierce compassion when they needed it most. We honor her memory by continuing that work, by being protectors of our communities, not bystanders to violence.
AAPIP remains committed to working alongside our partners to dismantle systems of hate and injustice, and to building a society where all communities can thrive with dignity and safety.