Tensions surrounding US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are escalating dramatically following the fatal shooting of an unarmed American woman in Minneapolis, with a leading British expert warning of increased risks of civil unrest.
‘Increasingly More Likely’: Expert Warns on ICE Expansion
The shooting of US citizen Renee Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 7, 2026, by an ICE officer has starkly highlighted the dangers of the agency's rapid expansion under the Trump administration. Professor Clifford Stott, MBE, a social psychology expert from Keele University, told Metro that such incidents are now ‘increasingly more likely’.
Professor Stott, who has conducted research for the UK Home Office and US authorities on managing protests, stated that ICE’s actions are very likely to provoke widespread protest. He emphasised the challenge for American law enforcement in managing dissent, particularly as federal policies are ‘increasingly seen as illegitimate’.
‘Everyone’s concerns are about the potential for this to precipitate into situations of civil disorder and civil unrest across the United States,’ Stott said. ‘Let’s be clear: 2020 shows that potentiality is always there.’
Local Outrage and a $100 Million Recruitment Drive
The incident has ignited fierce local criticism. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara called the shooting ‘very concerning’, while Mayor Jacob Frey bluntly dismissed the federal government’s claim of self-defence as ‘bullshit’.
This local fury contrasts sharply with federal plans. The Trump administration is channelling massive resources into ICE recruitment, with plans to spend $100,000,000 in the coming year. The drive specifically targets gun rights supporters and military enthusiasts, using rhetoric about performing a ‘sacred duty’ against ‘foreign invaders’.
Professor Stott raised serious questions about the ‘skill sets and dispositions’ of the new agents being deployed. His concerns were echoed by Sarah Saldaña, the head of ICE under Obama, who warned the Washington Post that such recruitment ads risk attracting untrained Americans eager for ‘combat’.
An Urgent Call for Legal Clarity and Precedent
With ICE having received over 200,000 applicants and offered 18,000 new jobs (85% with prior law enforcement experience), the situation is reaching a critical point. Professor Stott argues it is now imperative for courts to define the legal boundaries of ICE’s use of force ‘as quickly as possible’.
‘We need the courts to act quickly to bring definition to the legality of what happened in this circumstance,’ he stated. The legal proceedings in the coming weeks regarding Renee Good’s death could set a crucial precedent for future ICE operations.
The professor stressed the unique complexity of the case, noting it involved a federal agency, not local police. He called for a swift resolution across all arms of US governance to prevent further escalation and potential nationwide disorder, underscoring the urgent need for clarity and accountability.
