Hundreds Rally in Boca Raton After ICE Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside a West Boca Raton Home Depot Saturday to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the fatal shooting of Renee Good during an ICE operation in Minneapolis.

Protesters chanted “Say her name” and demanded accountability from federal immigration authorities after Good’s death earlier this week. The demonstration drew participants from across South Florida’s immigrant rights community.

The protest comes as immigration enforcement has intensified nationwide, raising concerns among South Florida’s diverse immigrant population. The region has seen increased deportation activity in recent years, affecting families who have lived here for decades.

Good was killed during an ICE enforcement action in Minneapolis, though federal authorities have released few details about the circumstances surrounding her death. The incident has sparked outrage from immigrant rights advocates who say it represents an escalation in aggressive enforcement tactics.

Saturday’s demonstration was organized by local immigrant rights groups who called for transparency and accountability in ICE operations. Protesters held signs demanding justice for Good and calling for reforms to immigration enforcement procedures.

The choice of the West Boca Raton Home Depot as a protest site was significant, as home improvement stores have become focal points for immigration debates nationwide. Day laborers, many of them immigrants, often gather at such locations seeking work.

South Florida has long been a destination for immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean, with Miami-Dade County home to one of the largest foreign-born populations in the United States. Immigration enforcement actions here often reverberate through entire communities.

Local immigrant rights organizations have been tracking ICE activity across the region, documenting cases where longtime residents face deportation despite deep community ties. These groups say Good’s death represents their worst fears about escalating enforcement tactics.

The Minneapolis shooting has drawn national attention from civil rights groups and immigration advocates who are demanding a federal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Good’s death. They argue that ICE operations have become increasingly militarized and dangerous.

Federal immigration authorities have defended their enforcement actions, saying they target individuals who pose public safety risks. However, immigrant rights advocates counter that raids often sweep up community members with no criminal history.

Saturday’s protest reflects growing tensions over immigration policy that have played out across South Florida in recent years. The region’s immigrant communities have organized numerous demonstrations and advocacy campaigns in response to federal enforcement actions.

The demonstration also highlights the interconnected nature of immigrant rights activism, with South Florida organizers mobilizing in response to events thousands of miles away in Minneapolis. Activists say Good’s death could have happened in any city with significant immigrant populations.

Protesters called for congressional oversight of ICE operations and demanded that federal authorities release body camera footage and other evidence related to Good’s shooting. They also urged local elected officials to take stronger stands against aggressive immigration enforcement.

The rally was part of a broader movement for immigrant rights that has gained momentum in South Florida, particularly in Miami-Dade and Broward counties where immigrant communities make up significant portions of the population.

Organizers said they plan additional demonstrations and advocacy efforts in response to Good’s death. They are also working to connect her case to broader concerns about immigration enforcement tactics in South Florida and nationwide.

The protest underscores how immigration policy remains a flashpoint issue in South Florida, where families from dozens of countries have built lives and businesses over generations. Community leaders say federal enforcement actions create climate of fear that affects entire neighborhoods.

As the demonstration concluded, organizers vowed to continue pressing for accountability in Good’s death and reforms to immigration enforcement procedures. They said the fight for immigrant rights requires sustained organizing across multiple cities and states.