A fundraiser set up for the family of an American mother shot dead by a federal immigration officer has raised more than $1.5 million (£1 million), far exceeding its original target, as a political storm erupts over the agent's legal immunity.
A Life Cut Short in Minneapolis
Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old US citizen and mother of three, was fatally shot on January 7, 2026, while sitting in her car in a residential area of Minneapolis. The shooting was carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer Jonathan Ross.
According to reports, Ms Good was not the intended target of the operation. She had attempted to drive her SUV away from the scene when officer Ross fired three times at her vehicle. The incident has sparked mass protests across the United States, fuelled by official claims that Ross acted in self-defence and allegations that state detectives are being blocked from investigating.
An Overwhelming Outpouring of Support
A GoFundMe campaign, initially aiming to raise $50,000 to support Renee's wife, Becca, and their son, has seen a staggering influx of donations, closing at nearly $2 million. In a statement closing the fundraiser, Becca Good expressed profound gratitude for the global support.
"First, I want to extend my gratitude to all the people who have reached out from across the country and around the world to support our family," she said. "This kindness of strangers is the most fitting tribute because if you ever encountered my wife, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, you know that above all else, she was kind."
Becca described her wife as a person who "sparkled" and was "made of sunshine," a devoted Christian who believed in finding and nurturing kindness in the world. The couple had moved to Minnesota to build a better life for their family.
Political Firestorm Over Federal Immunity
The tragedy has escalated into a major national controversy following intervention from the highest levels of government. Vice President JD Vance has insisted that officer Ross possesses "absolute immunity" from any potential criminal prosecution by Minnesota authorities.
"The precedent here is very simple," Vance stated. "You have a federal law enforcement official engaging in federal law enforcement action – that's a federal issue. That guy is protected by absolute immunity. He was doing his job. I've never seen anything like that. It would get tossed out by a judge."
Meanwhile, the agent's father, Ed Ross, defended his son's actions in an interview, claiming Ms Good's vehicle struck the officer and that another officer's arm was inside the car. He described Jonathan as a "committed and conservative Christian, a tremendous father, a tremendous husband."
The juxtaposition of a multi-million pound public tribute to a victim described as the epitome of kindness, and the robust political defence of the officer who killed her, continues to fuel anger and demonstrations calling for justice and accountability.
