The killing of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal immigration agents this month has shaken the United States, triggering protests across cities and renewed demands for accountability in immigration law enforcement. But activists and rights groups warn that these two deaths are part of a far wider and troubling pattern.
At least six immigrants have died in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the first weeks of 2026 alone, while a seventh person was fatally shot by an off-duty ICE officer. In 2025, a total of 32 deaths were reported in ICE custody, according to official data.
High-profile killings intensify scrutiny
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was killed by immigration officers in Minneapolis earlier this month. Days earlier, Renee Nicole Good was shot dead in the same city after federal agents surrounded her vehicle and she attempted to drive away. Both deaths have become flashpoints in the national debate over the conduct of immigration enforcement.
While authorities have cited officer safety and enforcement procedures, families and community groups have accused agents of excessive force and demanded independent investigations.
Deaths in custody raise serious questions
Among the reported deaths is Keith Porter, 43, who was shot and killed in Los Angeles by an off-duty ICE agent on New Year’s Eve. Federal authorities described him as an “active shooter”, a claim strongly disputed by his family.
In Texas, Cuban immigrant Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, died at a large ICE detention facility on January 3. While ICE initially said he became distressed after being placed in segregation, a medical examiner later ruled his death a homicide caused by neck and torso compression. His family has since prepared a wrongful death lawsuit.
Other deaths include Victor Manuel Diaz, a Nicaraguan national who died eight days after entering ICE custody; Parady La, a Cambodian immigrant who died following severe medical complications; and Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, 68, whose family alleges prolonged medical neglect before his death.
Calls for transparency grow louder
Families of the deceased and civil rights groups have questioned ICE’s medical care, use of force and transparency in investigations. Lawmakers and advocacy organisations are now calling for independent probes, public release of records and stronger oversight of immigration enforcement practices.
As protests continue, critics argue that the growing list of deaths reflects systemic failures that demand urgent reform.