Disturbing Pattern Emerges in ICE Conduct Following Minnesota Fatalities
In the aftermath of the tragic deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal immigration officers in Minnesota, a troubling pattern of behavior has surfaced within Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While investigations have meticulously examined the circumstances surrounding both shootings, one particular detail from Good's death has resonated deeply with women and advocates across the nation.
The video evidence clearly shows that moments after agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Good in the head, he referred to her as a "fucking bitch." This single utterance has become emblematic of a broader, systemic issue within the agency's interactions with women who protest or monitor their activities in Minnesota.
"A Popular Refrain" Within ICE Operations
Megan J. Peterson, executive director of the Minnesota-based gender equity organization Gender Justice and Gender Justice Action, has been collecting firsthand accounts of these encounters. "We are seeing in the reports coming in that it's not just [Good] who he called a 'fucking bitch,'" Peterson revealed. "That is now a popular refrain that ICE is using when encountering women protesters and ICE Watch observers. We've definitely gotten ongoing reports of this language."
Her organization launched a specialized tool for reporting gender-based violence from federal law enforcement following the killings. Through this mechanism, they've documented additional concerning behaviors: ICE agents telling women "they should be home with their children," making disparaging comments about women's appearances, and systematically misgendering and mistreating transgender women in detention facilities.
The misogynistic and anti-queer sentiments displayed after Good's death were unmistakable. Right-wing circles that labeled her a "domestic terrorist" simultaneously circulated insults about her queer identity and family, alongside derogatory comments about her appearance. This occurred despite footage revealing her final, disarming words: "I'm not mad at you."
Examining the Gender Dynamics Within Immigration Enforcement
To understand how these dynamics developed within ICE, experts point to recruitment patterns and institutional culture. Soraya Chemaly, author of "All We Want Is Everything: How We Dismantle Male Supremacy," explains the attraction certain demographics feel toward authoritarian structures.
"We know that men who identify with hegemonic masculine power, separate spheres for men and women, and gender hierarchies are much more likely to gravitate toward authoritarian structures in society," Chemaly stated. "That includes policing agencies and border patrol organizations—this pattern has been consistent for years."
While straight, white Christian men are strongly represented, Chemaly notes that recruitment messaging effectively reaches across demographic lines. "The right very effectively created a message of masculine restoration that appealed to men across groups," she observed, pointing to support from Hispanic men, Black men, and immigrant men during recent elections.
The Psychology of "Aggrieved Entitlement"
This phenomenon connects to what sociologist Michael Kimmel termed "aggrieved entitlement" in his 2013 book "Angry White Men: American Masculinity At The End of An Era." Many American men perceive gains in equality as having taken something they believed was rightfully theirs.
"If you can't provide in that time-tested way, you'd better be able to protect," explained Kimmel, former distinguished professor of sociology and gender studies at Stony Brook University. "How else to explain the proliferation of guns, especially assault rifles? When asked, don't these guys say 'to protect my family'?"
For men struggling to adapt to social changes—including women's increasing autonomy and shifting economic arrangements—Kimmel notes that appeals to traditional masculine roles prove compelling. "It's also compelling to outsource the causes of your distress: It's their fault... anyone who threatens 'their' jobs, 'their' way of life," he added, referencing what he calls "the MAGA trifecta" of racism, antisemitism, and misogyny.
When Masculine Authority Faces Challenge
Chemaly sees the ICE killings in Minnesota as representing a chilling struggle for control. "ICE itself is a hyper-masculine militarized policing force," she explained. "The government is using it to discipline a population that is effectively feminized—vulnerable, controlled, told what to do and where to be. When people resist that, they are being punished for their resistance."
Regarding the flagrant behaviors that may violate use-of-force policies, Chemaly identifies a "free expression" of violence "with authority." She connects this to political messaging that promised restoration of former glory and status alongside permission to "act without accountability."
Beyond Binary Gender Divisions
Peterson emphasizes that men are not exempt from punishment when they challenge traditional masculine norms, as evidenced by Alex Pretti's killing. "Alex was a nurse who was helping a woman stand up, directing traffic, and got shot in the back," she noted. "The fact that he was a man in a caretaking, community-protecting role shows how the old neat division of men versus women doesn't hold anymore."
This tragic case exemplifies the contrast between toxic expressions of masculinity and what Peterson describes as "the very healthy, emotionally intelligent expressions of masculinity that Alex Pretti represents so tragically and beautifully." The Minnesota incidents have thus revealed not just individual misconduct, but deep-seated institutional patterns that demand examination and reform.
