Renee Nicole Good’s mother says she voted for Trump to keep her family safe

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Renee Nicole Good’s mother, Donna Ganger, has revealed that she voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election because she believed his immigration policies would help protect American families. Her daughter, a 37-year-old US citizen, was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis in January.

Ganger made the emotional revelation Tuesday, September 22, at a public forum for families of people killed by ICE agents. She said she had believed federal immigration officers were there to protect innocent Americans from terrorists, never imagining that her own family would become victims.

Donna Ganger says her Trump vote was meant to protect her family

Ganger, who described herself as a registered Republican, said she voted for Trump because she believed ICE agents would keep people like her family safe.

“I’m a registered Republican. I voted for President Trump under the impression that these agents were here to protect the citizens of the United States, innocents like our family, and the others here, against terrorists, certainly not to accuse those of us here of being terrorists and take precious lives,” she said.

“This is madness.”  

Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Robert Garcia of California led the forum.

Families of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Ruben Ray Martinez also took part, along with Stella Carlson, who recorded the fatal shooting of VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti.

Ganger said her family is a “very American blend” and that family members may vote differently but “love each other deeply.”

Renee Nicole Good was killed during Minnesota immigration crackdown

Good was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7 during a protest against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota, known as 'Operation Metro Surge.'

Good was inside her car when Ross fired three shots into the vehicle. She was struck in the forearm, breast, and left temple. Her death was ruled a homicide by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.

The Trump administration said Good had tried to run over ICE officers with her vehicle. Vice President JD Vance and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described her as a “domestic terrorist” after the shooting.

Two weeks later, 37-year-old Alex Pretti was also shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis, adding to anger over the administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.

The operation was later shut down, with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan taking over from Border Patrol 'commander-at-large' Gregory Bovino.

Donna Ganger calls for action and accountability

Ganger said the pain of losing her daughter has been especially difficult because protecting children is something parents naturally try to do.

“It is our instinct and our honor to protect our children,” she said.

“Fast forward to today, and it is torture that, as her mom and as a family, we could not protect Renee.”

Ganger said the family could not have protected Good from people who were determined to disregard constitutional rules and values.

“That is what happened on January 7,” she said.

As a Christian, Ganger said she understands forgiveness but also believes change is necessary.

She thanked people from different backgrounds for their prayers and support but said sympathy alone would not be enough.

“The prayers and the words of support have truly brought us comfort,” she said. “It is meaningful that these statements have come from people of all colors, all faiths, and all ideals. That’s the perfect reflection of Renee.”

“But thoughts and prayers are not enough. We need action. We need accountability.”

Trump had previously called both Good’s and Pretti’s deaths “terrible,” while saying Good’s death was “worse” because her parents were “big Trump fans.”