Brothers of Renee Good urge Congress action after Minneapolis death

Brothers of Renee Good ask lawmakers to act after Minneapolis death

The brothers of Renee Good, a Minneapolis woman who was killed by a federal immigration officer in January, asked Congress on Tuesday to act on what they described as violence tied to immigration operations. Luke and Brett Ganger spoke during a hearing held by congressional Democrats that focused on use-of-force complaints involving officers from the Department of Homeland Security as they arrest and deport immigrants.

Good, who was 37 and a mother of three, was shot and killed on Jan. 7. Her death, along with the later killing of another protester, Alex Pretti, weeks after, prompted renewed outrage and calls for immigration enforcement to be reined in.

During the hearing, Luke Ganger told lawmakers the family felt “deep distress” after losing his sister “in such a violent and unnecessary way.” He did not specify which actions he wanted Congress to take, but he described Good’s death as a turning point meant to spur change in operations like those taking place in Minneapolis.

“The completely surreal scenes taking place on the streets of Minneapolis are beyond explanation. This is not just a bad day, or a rough week, or isolated incidents,” Luke Ganger said. “These encounters with federal agents are changing the community and changing many lives, including ours, forever.”

The hearing was organized by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif. Lawmakers used the event to spotlight complaints about how Homeland Security officers carry out President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda, including arrests and deportations.

The Trump administration has said that Good tried to run over an officer with her vehicle, an account that state and local officials in Minneapolis and protesters have rejected. The Gangers’ testimony did not dwell on those disputed details or on what the administration has said, focusing instead on Good’s life.

Luke Ganger said the most important thing the brothers could do was to explain to those listening “what a beautiful American we have lost. A sister. A daughter. A mother. A partner and a friend.” Brett Ganger read portions of a eulogy he had written for his sister’s funeral, comparing her to dandelions that grow and bring beauty in unexpected places, and telling the panel, “She believed tomorrow could be better than today. She believed that kindness mattered. And she lived that belief,”

In addition to the brothers, the panel heard from three other U.S. citizens who described their treatment by Homeland Security officers involved in immigration enforcement operations.