Residents gather in Watsonville to remember life of woman killed by immigration officer in Minneapolis

Nearly 100 residents gathered Thursday evening at Watsonville’s downtown plaza to remember the life of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman shot and killed by federal immigration officials in Minneapolis earlier this week. 

“I’m here to denounce the killing of Renee,” said Watsonville resident Oscar Rios. “Who would’ve thought that a mother, simply for being in a certain place, would get shot by ICE?” 

Rios said he was not entirely shocked to hear the news of Good’s death, considering how immigration officials have become increasingly aggressive in their enforcement tactics, but he felt an immense sadness when he watched the video of the shooting. 

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot Good in her car in a residential area south of downtown Minneapolis, according to the Associated Press. Videos of the shooting circulated quickly online Wednesday afternoon, prompting protests in Minnesota and across the country denouncing Good’s death. 

Thursday’s vigil, organized by Indivisible Pajaro Valley, also honored those who lost their lives while in immigration detention. At least 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025, making it the federal agency’s deadliest year, according to a report by The Guardian. 

Community members read out those names, including Good’s, while holding candles or lights. Throughout the vigil, people in attendance broke into chants or songs focused on unity. 

“It is really important that we recognize that this is far from the first murder or negligent killing of a person by ICE,” said Olivia Millard, a leader with Indivisible Pajaro Valley. 

She added that she believes immigration officials are getting out of control with their enforcement tactics, which she called unconstitutional. Millard is also concerned that aggressive immigration actions will continue to escalate after Wednesday’s shooting, she said. 

“We are exercising our constitutional right to speak out and to protest against these clearly unconstitutional tactics that this administration is taking, and we’re not going to be cowed,” Millard said. “So we’re here to show that. That’s why we’re here tonight, and to honor these lives.” 

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