Austin protesters demand justice after deadly ICE shooting

Greg Pierce holds a sign to passing traffic as protesters gather near the intersection of 45th Street and North Lamar Boulevard to protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Jan. 8, 2026 in solidarity with nation-wide protests after the killing of a Minneapolis woman, a U.S. citizen, by ICE agents on January 7.

At an unmarked ICE facility in Pflugerville, about 150 people gathered outside the fence, holding signs and flags.

In late January and early February 2025, Pflugerville residents began raising alarms about a newly renovated federal building near Algreg Street after noticing perimeter fencing topped with razor wire and other security features they said resembled a detention site. The concerns escalated publicly on Feb. 1, when demonstrators gathered outside the property to protest what they described as a lack of transparency surrounding the project.

Federal officials later said the building is operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and used as an immigration administrative and processing center — not a long-term detention facility — a characterization echoed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in statements to local media in February 2025.

"You can see the barbed wire. You can see the fences," said Brianna Griffith of the Party for Liberation and Socialism, who organized the protest. "Our purpose is to bring this directly to what we see as the source of that violence — ICE itself."

Protesters and speakers in Pflugerville described ICE as a nationwide problem and said its presence in the area has long alarmed locals.

"It is very important that we understand that the same ICE here is the ICE that is in Minneapolis," Griffith said.

Beyond condemning enforcement tactics, organizers said the rally was meant to show visible resistance and solidarity, particularly at a moment they believe dissent and free speech are under threat.

Griffith said public demonstrations are meant to remind immigrant communities that they are not isolated and that others will mobilize when enforcement turns deadly.

The protest was organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation, along with the Palestinian Youth Movement, Students for a Democratic Society and Young Active Labor Leaders. Organizers said they hope the community members at the protest would carry organizing efforts back into their own neighborhoods.

But not all attendees were happy with the organizers; some said they disagreed with the groups’ methods of resistance. As the protest broke up, several hooded individuals spray-painted the building and its fixtures, and some protesters banged on the side of the structure.

While the protest remained peaceful, by the time the crowd began to disperse at 7:45 p.m., a Dumpster at the ICE building had been spray-painted with the slogan "Quit your jobs" in red.

Earlier Thursday, a protest organized by Indivisible Rosedale Huddle gathered at the intersection of 45th Street and Lamar Boulevard, prompting rush-hour drivers to roll down their windows, wave and join in the noisemaking.

One of the organizers of the event, Megan Field, said safety monitors were on hand to keep the protesters away from turn lanes and on the triangular medians.

Trisha Morris wore a mask inspired by the film "V for Vendetta," which follows the story of an anti-establishment rebellion.

"I’m out here at all of these," she said proudly. "I wore this mask at No Kings."

Why are people protesting?

Rallies planned around the Austin area Thursday focused on the death of Renee Nicole Good, a Minneapolis resident who was shot and killed during a federal immigration enforcement operation Wednesday. The incident has sparked outrage nationwide and brought renewed scrutiny to ICE at a time when the Trump administration is deploying more agents than ever before, particularly in residential neighborhoods.

Federal officials said ICE agents were conducting operations in Minneapolis around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday when their vehicle became trapped in snow. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said a "mob of agitators that were harassing them all day" attempted to block the agents and stop them from moving their vehicle.

Noem said Good was one of the "agitators" and when ICE ordered her to get out of her car, she refused. Noem said an agent fired his weapon in self-defense after Good allegedly attempted to "weaponize her vehicle" while fleeing.

That account has been disputed by Minneapolis officials and activists who point to videos circulating online that appear to show Good’s vehicle moving away from agents when shots were fired.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has publicly questioned the federal government’s version of events and called for transparency as investigations continue.

Who was Renee Nicole Good?

Good, 37, was a mother of three and a writer who lived with her partner in south Minneapolis, according to family members and local officials. Relatives have described her as a devoted parent and a creative who posed no threat to law enforcement.

She was a U.S. citizen and died just blocks from where she lived.

Her mother said she was "one of the kindest people I’ve ever known," the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

Good had previously been married, but her husband died in 2023. Their 6-year-old son is now an orphan.

Community members descended on the neighborhood Wednesday after the shooting to honor and remember her.

Are there additional protests planned?

Additional protests are planned in Austin. A rally hosted by the Austin Immigration Rights Action Committee will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday near the south entrance of the Texas Capitol. On Saturday, Jan. 10, a protest at City Hall will start at 11 a.m. There, activists will call for ICE to leave Austin. Another protest is planned for 6:30 p.m. Saturday at 300 East Eighth Street.