Mamdani Blames Trump’s ‘Year of Cruelty’ for Renee Nicole Good’s Death, Repeats Incendiary ‘Murder’ Claim
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the killing of a Minneapolis mother by a federal immigration officer reflects what he described as a sustained pattern of harsh enforcement under President Donald Trump, arguing that the incident exposed deeper problems with how immigration agents operate nationwide.
In an interview Thursday night, Mamdani dismissed claims by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that the officer involved acted according to training when he shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good inside her vehicle after being struck by the car. Mamdani instead faulted the administration’s expanded use of ICE personnel, saying the policies created conditions that led to the woman’s death.
“If that is following his training, then I think there are larger questions about the training that’s being provided to ICE agents,” Mamdani said during a CNN appearance with Kaitlan Collins.
He went on to say that the widely circulated footage of the shooting left little room for doubt in his view.
“We can all see that video and come to our own conclusions that that ICE agent murdered a woman in Minneapolis, and it is a glimpse into what has been a year full of cruelty.”
Mamdani said the incident reverberated far beyond Minneapolis, particularly in New York City, which he noted is home to roughly 3 million immigrants. He said many residents woke up the next day feeling unsettled and fearful.
The mayor added that he has already raised concerns directly with Trump, telling the president that ICE’s tactics undermine, rather than enhance, public safety.
“It is clear to myself and to so many across the country, as I’ve shared with the president directly, that these ICE raids are cruel and inhumane and they do nothing to further the cause or the interest of public safety,” he said.
Collins challenged Mamdani on his repeated use of the word “murder,” pointing out that Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey — despite angrily telling ICE to “get the f—k out” of his city — has stopped short of using that term.
“That was the conclusion I came to just in watching that video, and I think that’s the conclusion many Americans came to, that same conclusion, no matter how many times this is mischaracterized by others,” Mamdani replied.
The mayor has made opposition to ICE a recurring theme, previously labeling the agency “rogue.” During his Democratic primary victory speech in June, he pledged to wield his authority “to reject Donald Trump’s fascism [and] to stop mass ICE agents from deporting our neighbors.”
After a recent enforcement action in Chinatown, Mamdani released a video urging residents to “stand up” to ICE and explaining how to assert constitutional rights during encounters with immigration officers.
His remarks come as Democratic officials across the country escalate their criticism of ICE amid protests sparked by Good’s death, including demonstrations in New York City. According to reports, some members of Congress are even weighing the possibility of forcing a government shutdown to push for changes to the agency.
Frey, for his part, declined to walk back his own sharp language after publicly demanding that ICE leave Minneapolis.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has also entered the fray, saying her administration is exploring ways to make it easier for New Yorkers to bring lawsuits against ICE agents. On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” she recounted a recent confrontation with an agent in Lower Manhattan.
“I said, ‘Why do you wear a mask? No other law enforcement does this, our police don’t do it, our FBI agents don’t do it, why are you doing this?’” Hochul said.
{Matzav.com}
