Fact Check: Is the video showing DHS officer defacing Renee Nicole Good's memorial real?

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: In the aftermath of the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis during an immigration crackdown, a video went viral showing a Department of Homeland Security officer (DHS) kicking over a memorial candle placed in her honor. The video has sparked speculations regarding its authenticity. Let us fact-check the claim.

Claim: Video shows ICE agent kicking Renee Good's memorial

The viral video shows a law enforcement official walking over words written on the ground honoring Good and kicking a flameless candle twice that was part of the makeshift memorial.

The video appeared on multiple social media platforms, gaining millions of views. 

The oldest version of the clip appeared on Bluesky on January 8 with the caption, “Right after Renée Good's disgusting murder, an ICE goon was filmed kicking her memorial candles. Absolutely vile."

Various social media users, including CNN anchor Don Lemon, also claimed the law enforcement official was an ICE agent.

After the officer kicked over the plastic candle, a memorial attendant walked toward him, shouting expletives. "What was that for?" the memorial attendant asked, gesturing toward the memorial on the ground. "I don't give a f***," the officer responded.

According to some social media users, the video is AI-generated, while others argued that it's authentic.

Fact Check: The video is authentic

The clip is authentic and was not made using AI or other video editing tools. The video is from Sacramento, California, as confirmed by the background of the footage matching Google Street View imagery of the DHS office in the state’s capital.

Multiple video clues also confirmed the location of the video.

However, the official was a Federal Protective Service officer, not an ICE agent, as suggested by their uniforms featuring large yellow writing indicating they were police for the DHS and, therefore, federal police, not local. 

The FPS is the subsidiary of the DHS responsible for protecting federal government facilities. Therefore, this claim contained mostly true information.

ICE operation escalates into a deadly encounter

The shooting occurred amid a federal immigration enforcement surge targeting the Twin Cities area on January 7.

The operation involved a significant deployment of federal agents across Minneapolis and St Paul, marking one of the most aggressive crackdowns in the region in recent years.

Video footage of the incident quickly spread online, drawing scrutiny of the Department of Homeland Security account. DHS later described Renee Nicole Good as a 'domestic te**orist,' alleging that she attempted to weaponize her vehicle against law enforcement officers.

However, the available video evidence did not appear to support that characterization. In the footage, the vehicle appeared to be turning away from agents moments before shots were fired, contradicting official claims.