NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani Condemns Minneapolis ICE Shooting as “Murder”

NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani Condemns Minneapolis ICE Shooting as 'Murder'

Newly sworn-in New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani has sharply condemned the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis, calling the killing “murder” and rejecting federal claims that the agent acted in self-defense.

Mamdani’s remarks, delivered in a public statement shortly after taking office, represent one of the strongest rebukes yet from a sitting U.S. mayor. His intervention has intensified the political fallout from the shooting and broadened the debate over ICE operations in American cities.

“This was not self-defense,” Mamdani said. “This was a killing carried out by federal agents operating without meaningful oversight.”

Read more: Was the ICE Agent’s Fatal Shooting of Renee Nicole Good Legal?

Federal and local accounts clash

The Department of Homeland Security has defended the unnamed ICE agent, saying the officer fired after Good attempted to drive her vehicle into agents during a targeted immigration operation in south Minneapolis. DHS officials have described the shooting as a justified response to an imminent threat.

Local leaders dispute that account. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz have both said video evidence and witness statements raise serious questions about whether deadly force was necessary. Frey has demanded greater transparency from federal authorities and publicly challenged DHS’s description of the incident.

Read more:

- What Happens When an ICE Agent Fires a Fatal Shot?

- Who Is the ICE Agent Shot Renee Nicole Good?

Why Mamdani’s stance matters

As mayor of the nation’s largest city, Mamdani’s condemnation carries symbolic and political weight. New York City has long limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and Mamdani has made opposition to aggressive policing a central part of his platform.

By labeling the shooting “murder,” Mamdani goes further than many Democratic leaders, aligning himself with civil-rights groups and activists who argue ICE operates with insufficient accountability compared to local police departments.

Investigations continue

The shooting remains under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and state authorities. The ICE agent involved has not been publicly identified, and no charges have been filed.

As the investigations proceed, Mamdani said the case should prompt a national reckoning over federal use of force.

“When federal agents kill civilians and hide behind secrecy,” he said, “every city should be paying attention.”