Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem Objects to Journalist Naming ICE Agent in Fatal Minneapolis Shooting
Major Points:
- Noem interrupted Face the Nation host for mentioning Jonathan Ross by name during interview
- Agent fatally shot 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good on January 7th in Minneapolis
- DOJ announced hours after interview that Ross would not face investigation for shooting
Contentious Sunday Interview Exchange
During a January 18th Face the Nation appearance, 54-year-old Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sharply objected when host Margaret Brennan mentioned ICE agent Jonathan Ross by name while discussing the Trump administration’s ongoing deportation operations and escalating tensions in Minneapolis.
The exchange occurred during discussion of the January 7th fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman shot by Ross while she was in her vehicle. Ross initially fired through Good’s windshield before shooting twice more through her open driver’s-side window. She was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead that same day.
Secretary’s Immediate Objection
When Brennan began asking Noem specifically about Ross, the Homeland Security chief immediately interrupted.
“Don’t say his name. For heaven’s sakes, we shouldn’t have people continue to dox law enforcement when they have an 8,000% increase in death threats against them,” Noem told her.
When Brennan replied, “His name is public,” Noem countered, “I know, but that doesn’t mean it should continue to be said.”
Defense of Agent’s Actions
“His life—he got attacked with a car that was trying to take his life, and then people have attacked him and his family, and they are in jeopardy. We have law enforcement officers every day who are getting death threats and getting attacked at their hotels, they’re getting ice thrown at them,” Noem added.
Brennan told Noem, “of course no one condones violence against anyone,” before requesting an update on Ross, specifically whether he had returned to ICE duties and if he faced temporary suspension following Good’s death.
Limited Information Provided
Noem resisted sharing details about the officer, replying, “I’m not gonna share his—I’m not gonna—we followed the exact same protocols that we always have for years regarding investigations into these situations. But I’m not gonna talk about his medical records. I know that you know that in itself is his prerogative to discuss his health.”
When pressed by Brennan regarding whether Ross would be investigated for the shooting, Noem remained evasive and shifted her answer to accuse Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of allowing “billions of dollars of fraud” to occur in his state.
DOJ Announcement Following Interview
Hours after Noem’s Face the Nation appearance, the Department of Justice announced that Ross would not be investigated for the shooting, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed to Fox News that the DOJ is examining possibly charging state officials in Minnesota.
Previous Identity Disclosure
Noem’s doxxing accusation comes weeks after Ross was identified as the agent who fatally shot Good on January 7th. After the Minnesota Star Tribune first identified him, followed by Fox9 and The Intercept, ICE Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended Ross and said the agency would not release his identity.
“We are not going to expose the name of this officer. He acted according to his training,” she said at the time, noting the agent had over 10 years of experience as an ICE Deportation Officer.
“DHS will never confirm or deny attempts to dox our law enforcement officers. Doxxing our officers puts their lives and their families in serious danger,” she continued. “Our law enforcement officers are on the frontlines arresting terrorists, gang members, murderers, pedophiles, and rapists. Now, thanks to the malicious rhetoric of sanctuary politicians, they are under constant threat from violent agitators.”
Ongoing ICE Operations
Despite rising tensions and broad disapproval from segments of the American public, Noem and DHS have no plans to reduce ICE presence in U.S. cities. Noem recently stated that Americans should prepare to prove their citizenship, and claimed that validating the identity of some people approached by ICE agents is “something we’ve always done.”
Nationwide Protests and Federal Response
While protests against ICE have surged across the country—including in California, where a 21-year-old anti-ICE protester was left permanently blinded in one eye and allegedly mocked by agents after he was shot at close range with non-lethal ammunition—President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act specifically in Minnesota to stop anti-ICE protests.
The act was last used in 1992 when riots broke out after four White police officers were acquitted in the beating of Black motorist Rodney King. It would allow Trump, 79, to deploy federal troops to Minnesota. The Washington Post reported on Sunday that the Pentagon had ordered approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers to prepare for possible deployment to the state.
Public Information Debate
The exchange between Noem and Brennan highlights tensions between government officials seeking to protect law enforcement identities and journalists’ practice of reporting publicly available information about individuals involved in significant newsworthy events—particularly those resulting in civilian deaths.
The disagreement over whether publicly available names should be mentioned in news coverage reflects broader debates about transparency, accountability, and protection of law enforcement personnel operating in increasingly contentious environments where their actions face intense public scrutiny.
As ICE operations continue expanding and tensions escalate in multiple jurisdictions, questions regarding appropriate disclosure of agent identities involved in controversial incidents—particularly those resulting in fatalities—will likely remain contested between administration officials prioritizing officer safety and media representatives emphasizing public accountability and transparency.