Post Reports: Are ICE officers doing what they’re trained to do?

Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Martine Powers & Elahe Izadi
Guest: Maria Sacchetti, Immigration Reporter, The Washington Post

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the fatal shooting of Renee Goode by ICE officer Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis, and the broader implications for ICE’s tactics, training, and accountability. The discussion explores the details of the incident, the training (and possible missteps) of ICE officers, the changes in immigration enforcement under the renewed Trump administration, and the subsequent investigations and political fallout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Incident: The Shooting of Renee Goode

[00:01-02:00]

• Renee Goode was shot by ICE officer Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis after an encounter that was partially captured on video.
• Some details are clear: Goode’s SUV moved toward Ross, but he was able to move out of the way and fired two of three shots from the side of her vehicle.
• Federal officials claim Ross acted in self-defense, alleging Goode tried to run him over, while community members say her death was preventable.
• The incident prompts broader questions about ICE tactics and training, especially amid an increased federal ICE presence post-Trump's return to office.

2. ICE Watch Groups and Civilian Oversight

[02:05-03:25]

• Minneapolis, like other cities, has “ICE Watch” groups formed to observe and document ICE activity due to the secrecy surrounding immigration arrests.

• These groups often act as witnesses to ensure detainees' relatives can be informed and as advocates for immigrants.

• It’s unclear how involved Goode was with such groups, but these civilian actions predate the Trump administration.

  “They say they’re serving as witnesses and advocates for immigrants.” — Maria Sacchetti [03:20]

3. The Officer: Jonathan Ross’s Background

[03:25-04:44]

• Jonathan Ross is not a new hire; he is an experienced officer with military, border patrol, and ICE backgrounds.

• Recently, Ross was involved in a separate incident (“dragging incident”) where he was injured after being dragged by a suspect's car during an arrest attempt — a context possibly impacting his mindset during the Goode encounter.

  “He got stuck in the car of somebody he was trying to arrest and was dragged for about 12 seconds… He suffered serious injuries.” — Maria Sacchetti [04:19]

4. Analysis of the Confrontation: Tactics, Mistakes, and Escalation

[04:44-09:10]

• Law enforcement experts reviewing the video noted numerous departures from standard police training and best practices:

  • Officers escalated by yanking on Goode’s car door rather than verbally de-escalating.
  • Ross placed himself in front of the vehicle — a position trained officers are taught to avoid, as it increases the likelihood of needing to use deadly force.
  • After being shot, Goode’s uncontrolled SUV endangered others.

• Experts largely agreed the confrontation could and should have been avoided:

  • Officers could have blocked her vehicle, let her go, or arrested her later using the license plate, avoiding a dangerous confrontation.
  • Some caution that, technically, the shooting may still be ruled justified based on Ross’s position, but assert the tactics leading there were poor.

  “…they said they saw multiple violations of best practices.” — Maria Sacchetti [05:22]
  “You don't stand in front of a vehicle you’re interacting with… you’re putting yourself in a position where you could be in danger or might be compelled to use deadly force.” — Maria Sacchetti [06:51]

5. Officer Recording the Incident With a Phone

[09:10-10:32]

• Ross filmed the confrontation on his personal device, not a standard-issue body camera — raising questions about situational awareness, evidence preservation, and transparency.

• This is not standard practice and complicates the investigative process due to chain-of-custody and data access concerns.

  “Was he in a stable position? Was he paying attention? Was he aware of his surroundings or was on filming?” — Maria Sacchetti [09:50]

6. Underlying Changes in ICE Tactics and Training under Trump

[13:51-15:15]

• Under the Trump administration, ICE has expanded enforcement and rapidly hired new officers, with training now condensed from 4–5 months to 2 months.

• While DHS asserts critical law enforcement content remains, language training has been shortened and replaced with translation technologies.

• Despite Ross’s experience, the incident highlights lapses in applying even basic training principles.

  “Training has been shortened. It was four to five months before, and now it’s down to two months… DHS will say they have not cut…vital substantive training… but they have reduced the Spanish language classes…” — Maria Sacchetti [14:24]

7. Policing Culture: Local vs. Federal Enforcement

[15:15-17:50]

• Minneapolis, home to the George Floyd protests, remains sensitive to police use of force.

• Unlike local police under public scrutiny, ICE operates under a federal mandate that historically has less transparency and community accountability.

• Local outrage is fueled by ICE’s sweeping tactics: individuals swept up for minor civil violations (e.g., visa overstays) rather than criminal offenses, escalating confrontations.

  “…deportation enforcement and removal is not criminal. They're going after people for civil immigration violations… The notion that something like that should lead to violent clashes… that's something they feel should not happen.” — Maria Sacchetti [16:38]

8. Investigations and Federal-State Tensions

[17:50-19:21]

• The FBI is investigating Goode’s death, but state and local officials feel obstructed by federal authorities’ lack of information-sharing.

• Maria Sacchetti notes that critical evidence (such as more video footage) is still being sought, and questions remain about the immediate justification presented by federal officials.

  “…the immediate aftermath is not the moment to decide if it was a justified shooting or not. And to immediately defend him…you know, this is the secretary and the agency where they’re going to have to decide to take some action.” — Maria Sacchetti [18:31]

9. Fallout: Political and Legal Responses

[19:29-end]

• In response to the shooting, the Trump administration sent more ICE officers into Minnesota.
• Minnesota officials filed a lawsuit against DHS, alleging the surge is politically motivated and unconstitutional.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On escalation vs. de-escalation:
  “To approach somebody and yank on their car doors, if you want to rip them out, that’s not their training.” — Maria Sacchetti [05:21]

• On choices ICE officers could have made:
  “If you have her license plate, you can go arrest her later at home. And there’s no street confrontation anymore.” — Maria Sacchetti [09:02]

• On differences between ICE and local PD:
  “Cities around the country...have been having a lot of these conversations about what does good policing look like…It seems like ICE is under a different mandate.” — Martine Powers [15:15]

• On transparency:
  “Was he in a stable position? Was he paying attention? Was he aware of his surroundings or was on filming?” — Maria Sacchetti [09:50]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:01–02:00: Episode intro & summary of the shooting incident
• 02:05–03:25: Renee Goode, ICE Watch groups, community context
• 03:25–04:44: Jonathan Ross’s background & previous “dragging incident”
• 04:44–09:10: Analysis of officer tactics, video reviews, expert criticism
• 09:10–10:32: Issue of officers filming interventions on personal devices
• 13:51–15:15: Changes in ICE training & hiring under Trump
• 15:15–17:50: ICE vs. local policing philosophy, Minneapolis context
• 17:50–19:21: Investigations into the shooting, barriers to state involvement
• 19:29–end: Political and legal ramifications, state-federal tensions

Conclusion

This episode exposes deep questions about the conduct and accountability of ICE officers amid rapidly changing federal immigration enforcement policies. The tragic case of Renee Goode is framed as both a testament to the practical challenges officers and communities face and a flashpoint in the broader debate over federal authority, police tactics, and the consequences of condensing training and oversight during a period of escalating enforcement.