Four people have been fatally shot by ICE agents since the start of the immigration raids across the country, according to The Trace. The death of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis this week has brought more attention to the death of Keith Porter in Southern California, who was shot by an off-duty agent on New Year’s Eve.
The Trace, which investigates instances of gun violence, identified seven people who have been injured and a total of 16 incidents in which ICE agents shot someone since the crackdowns began.
An off-duty ICE agent fatally shot Keith Porter on New Year’s Eve
The family of Porter, a 43-year-old man who was fatally shot by an ICE agent on New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles, is calling for legal action.
“From day one that he was born, I knew that he was my joy,” Porter’s mother Franceola Armstrong said during a Monday press conference, according to ABC7. “When he came around, people looked for him. He was a joy to be around. My son, the biggest heart, sympathetic, appreciative, so much gratitude.”
The ICE agent said he heard gunshots outside of his apartment and went out to investigate with his firearm, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security. The agent said he identified himself to Porter and that Porter aimed a rifle at him. The man reportedly didn’t comply when asked to put his weapon down, which prompted the ICE agent to shoot. DHS added that Porter fired three rounds at the officer before he died although he wasn’t injured.
Porter’s family contradicted the statement, saying that the man was firing gunshots as part of a New Year’s Eve celebration. Per attorney Jamal Tooson, the ICE agent didn’t identify himself and that he failed to wait for assistance from law enforcement.
“He claims he heard gunshots were getting closer to his apartment, but rather than staying at a position of safety, he left his apartment and went downstairs to what would be a position of danger,” he said. “But instead of staying in his apartment for a trained law enforcement officer from LAPD to respond, he made the premeditated and calculated decision to grab a firearm.”
People have protested for two nights since Minneapolis woman Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent
People have taken to the streets to protest against shootings conducted by ICE and federal agents across the country. On Wednesday, Good was fatally shot by ICE agents, which has since sparked national and international outrage. Another incident was reported on Thursday in which two people were injured after being shot by border patrol agents in Portland.
Demonstrators marched in several cities, including Houston, Cincinnati, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Many are calling for the abolition of ICE and a stop to the immigration raids.
“They cannot get away with killing someone. There has to be consequences for actions,” Gavin, a protester in Minneapolis, told the BBC on Thursday.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey publicly called on the federal government to remove ICE agents from the city.
“Get the f**k out of Minneapolis,” he said in a Wednesday press conference, according to CBS News. “We do not want you here. Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety and you’re doing exactly the opposite.”
Four people were fatally shot by ICE agents as of Jan. 7, according to reports
Good and Porter aren’t the only people who were fatally shot by ICE agents since the start of the immigration raids in June, according to The Trace. The organization reported several instances of gun violence against the U.S. population.
It identified 16 incidents in which immigration agents shot someone and another 15 incidents in which agents held someone at gunpoint. It also found that at least three people had been shot while observing and documenting raids, while five people were shot while driving away from traffic shots or evading officers.
“Our numbers, derived from news reports, are likely an undercount, as shootings involving immigration agents are not always publicly reported,” The Trace wrote.