Readers Back ICE After Fatal Shooting

Intermediate | February 2, 2026

✨ Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.

A Poll That Lit Up the Internet

In mid-January, a reader survey from The Epoch Times showed extremely strong support for ICE after a deadly confrontation in Minneapolis. (The Epoch Times survey)

What Happened in Minneapolis

According to the survey write-up, the confrontation happened on January 7 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and involved Renee Nicole Good (35). Federal officials said Good “weaponized” her SUV against an ICE agent, and the agent fired in self-defense. (Summary of the survey story: The Thinking Conservative repost)

What the Epoch Reader Survey Found

The ICE approval poll results were lopsided. In the survey conducted January 14–15, a combined 93% of respondents said they agreed “very much” or “somewhat” that the use of force was justified. The same 92% said they trusted federal law enforcement operations in Minnesota in general. The survey also reported 93% “strongly approve” of Justice Department warnings against interfering with enforcement operations, and 82% “strongly approve” of sending additional federal agents to Minnesota after the shooting. (Survey summary)

Other Polls Show a Very Different Picture

Here’s where it gets interesting: other national polls around the same event describe a public that’s far more divided.

For example, a Quinnipiac University national poll released January 13 found that 53% of registered voters said the shooting was not justified, while 35% said it was justified. (Quinnipiac poll release)

An Ipsos poll released January 20 found that by 52% to 25%, Americans were more likely to call the shooting an excessive use of force rather than a necessary one. (Ipsos report)

And an Axios/YouGov poll reported that many Americans had little confidence in ICE after the Minnesota shootings, with independents showing the biggest shift. (Axios summary)

Why the ICE approval poll Matters

So what do we do with these mixed signals? The ICE approval poll is a reminder that who you ask really matters. A reader survey can reflect a loyal audience’s beliefs, while a national poll captures a broader (and often messier) public mood.

At the same time, the bigger story is that immigration enforcement isn’t just a policy argument anymore—it’s become a trust argument. People are debating not only what happened, but also which institutions to believe: federal agencies, local officials, or the media.

What to Watch Next

If more video footage, official reports, or legal findings come out, public opinion could shift again. Watch for:

whether investigators release more details,
whether DHS/ICE changes rules or training,
and whether Congress pushes for new limits or oversight.

In a fast-moving story like this, the narrative can change quickly—and the “court of public opinion” often reacts before the facts fully settle.

Vocabulary

Confrontation (noun) – a tense or aggressive meeting between people.
Example: The confrontation happened during an ICE operation in Minneapolis.
Enforcement (noun) – the act of making sure rules or laws are followed.
Example: Immigration enforcement has become a major political issue.
Justified (adjective) – having a good reason; fair or acceptable.
Example: Some voters said the shooting was not justified.
Excessive (adjective) – too much; more than necessary.
Example: Many people viewed the force as excessive.
Respondent (noun) – someone who answers questions in a survey.
Example: Most respondents supported ICE in the reader survey.
Confidence (noun) – trust or belief that someone will act correctly.
Example: A national poll found low confidence in ICE.
Oversight (noun) – supervision to make sure actions are responsible and legal.
Example: Lawmakers discussed more oversight of enforcement agencies.
Narrative (noun) – the story people tell about what happened.
Example: Different sources pushed different narratives about the incident.
Accountability (noun) – responsibility and being answerable for actions.
Example: Protesters demanded accountability after the shooting.
Polarized (adjective) – strongly divided into opposing sides.
Example: The public response has been deeply polarized.

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

What happened in Minneapolis, and what did federal officials claim?
What were the most striking numbers in the reader survey?
Why do you think a reader survey and a national poll might show different results?
Which source in the article feels most convincing to you—and why?
What kind of evidence would help the public feel more confident about what happened?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

What should be the limits on law enforcement use of force?
How should the public evaluate claims from the government versus claims from media outlets?
Do you think “trust in institutions” is rising or falling in many countries today? Why?
What role do videos and social media play in shaping public opinion?
If you were writing policy, how would you balance enforcement with civil liberties?

Related Idiom / Phrase

“The court of public opinion” – what people collectively think about an event, even before courts or investigators finish their work.

Example: In the court of public opinion, different polls can create totally different verdicts.

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This article was inspired by: The Epoch Times, The Thinking Conservative repost, Quinnipiac University Poll, Ipsos, ABC News, and Axios