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- Asep Haryono | Why Do Immigration Officers Use Lethal Force?. My reactions on the Minnesota Tragedy - Powered by Blogger
Disclaimer:
This article represents the author’s personal perspective and is intended for discussion and informational purposes only. It does not encourage hatred, violence, or discrimination in any form.
Happy weekend my friends.This article represents the author’s personal perspective and is intended for discussion and informational purposes only. It does not encourage hatred, violence, or discrimination in any form.
The whole world, including me in Indonesia, have witnessed through social media platforms that In January 2026, an ICE agent in Minneapolis fatally shot Renée Nicole Good during an enforcement operation. Officials claim Good posed an imminent threat, but eyewitness videos show a different perspective, suggesting she was calm before the shooting.
The incident has led to protests and calls for an independent investigation. As of now, the investigation is ongoing, and the community is waiting for more clarity on what happened.
My question is simple. Why Do Immigration Officers Use Lethal Force?
Recently, a tragic incident in Minnesota shocked many people around the world. A woman was fatally shot during an immigration-related operation conducted by U.S. officers. This event has sparked serious attentions, not only about what exactly happened in that case, but also about how immigration enforcement is handled in the United States, and whether such extreme force is really necessary.
As an ordinary observer, I want to reflect on this issue from a human perspective, not a political one instead of I am not good at confrontation. I would like to find an answer to my question mentioned above. Why Do Immigration Officers Use Lethal Force? They are Civilian, Not a Criminal. You are not at war. Why did you do that?
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| Dramatic video purportedly shows the moment an ICE agent fatally opened fire on a woman in Minneapolis, who DHS says attempted to barrel her SUV into the path of an office.I marked with a circle to show you the guy's firearms. Image courtesy of New Your Post Yputube Channel |
One of the most important points to understand is this:Illegal immigrants are civilians, not armed criminals or terrorists. In most cases, they are unarmed people workers, parents, or families who entered or stayed in a country without proper documents. That is a legal issue, yes, but it is not the same as violent crime. I want to say one more time my friends/ My other big question is: Why do officers need to carry lethal weapons when dealing with unarmed civilians?
From a moral and humanitarian point of view, this feels deeply troubling. Immigration enforcement should be about administrative law, not battlefield tactics.
You guys said it was “Self-Defense”.
O come on.
The U.S. government and law enforcement agencies often explain that officers are armed for self-defense. The argument is that officers never know what situation they will face and must be prepared for danger.But many people find this reasoning difficult to accept in immigration cases.
Self-defense usually applies when there is a clear and immediate threat.
If the person being arrested is unarmed, surrounded by officers, and not committing violence, then using lethal force feels disproportionate. This is why many people describe such actions as excessive, unnecessary, and even cruel.
Militarization of Immigration Enforcement
Another my major concern is the militarization of immigration officers in the United States. Through many videos I have watched recently clearly showed that many ICE agents are equipped with: Firearms, Tactical gear and Military-style equipment. Just like at war zone
This creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, especially in immigrant communities. When officers look and act like soldiers, people naturally panic even if they have done nothing violent. Fear escalates situations. Panic leads to mistakes. And mistakes, when weapons are involved, can end in death.
I compare this with countries like Border Security Australia, the difference is striking. Australia also enforces immigration laws strictly. They search for undocumented immigrants and conduct operations. However, in many recorded cases, officers: Do not carry visible lethal weapons. Focus on questioning and verification. No bullet was fired
Militarization of Immigration Enforcement
Another my major concern is the militarization of immigration officers in the United States. Through many videos I have watched recently clearly showed that many ICE agents are equipped with: Firearms, Tactical gear and Military-style equipment. Just like at war zone
This creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, especially in immigrant communities. When officers look and act like soldiers, people naturally panic even if they have done nothing violent. Fear escalates situations. Panic leads to mistakes. And mistakes, when weapons are involved, can end in death.
I compare this with countries like Border Security Australia, the difference is striking. Australia also enforces immigration laws strictly. They search for undocumented immigrants and conduct operations. However, in many recorded cases, officers: Do not carry visible lethal weapons. Focus on questioning and verification. No bullet was fired
Use calm, firm communication. The emphasis is on control and procedure, not intimidation. This comparison shows that immigration enforcement does not have to involve deadly force. I love that
As far as I am concerned, In the United States, immigration enforcement is deeply connected to race, history, and systemic inequality. Even when officers say race is not a factor, the outcomes often suggest otherwise.
Communities of color feel targeted. Immigrants feel hunted rather than protected by the law. This erodes trust and creates long-term damage to social cohesion.
After a fatal incident like the one in Minnesota, many people ask: I would like you guys to investiage this issue as soon as possible. We do not have to wait so long for justice even tough you will need more time for Investigations because multiple agencies are involved, Evidence must be reviewed carefully and Legal standards are strict. While this process is important to ensure fairness, long delays also create frustration, anger, and suspicion among the public. Transparency during investigations is essential. Silence only deepens mistrust.
Whether the case will go to trial depends on Evidence, Witness accounts, Body camera footage and Legal interpretation of “use of force”Justice is not guaranteed but public pressure, media attention, and independent investigations can play a crucial role in ensuring accountability. Justice is not just about punishment. It is also about acknowledging wrongdoing and preventing future tragedies.
POV : What the U.S. Government Should Do Next
If the U.S. truly wants to prevent similar tragedies, several changes are necessary like limit the use of lethal weapons in immigration operations, Prioritize de-escalation training, not tactical aggression, Separate immigration enforcement from criminal policing, Ensure independent oversight for any use of deadly force and Treat undocumented immigrants as civilians, not enemies
Immigration is a legal issue. It should not be handled like a war.
At the end of the day, this is not only about laws or borders. It is about human life. A person died. A family lost someone. A community was traumatized. No policy, no law, and no enforcement operation should forget that basic truth. If governments want respect for the law, they must first show respect for human dignity. A Human Issue, Not Just a Legal One
What are your thoughts on this issue?
As far as I am concerned, In the United States, immigration enforcement is deeply connected to race, history, and systemic inequality. Even when officers say race is not a factor, the outcomes often suggest otherwise.
Communities of color feel targeted. Immigrants feel hunted rather than protected by the law. This erodes trust and creates long-term damage to social cohesion.
After a fatal incident like the one in Minnesota, many people ask: I would like you guys to investiage this issue as soon as possible. We do not have to wait so long for justice even tough you will need more time for Investigations because multiple agencies are involved, Evidence must be reviewed carefully and Legal standards are strict. While this process is important to ensure fairness, long delays also create frustration, anger, and suspicion among the public. Transparency during investigations is essential. Silence only deepens mistrust.
Whether the case will go to trial depends on Evidence, Witness accounts, Body camera footage and Legal interpretation of “use of force”Justice is not guaranteed but public pressure, media attention, and independent investigations can play a crucial role in ensuring accountability. Justice is not just about punishment. It is also about acknowledging wrongdoing and preventing future tragedies.
POV : What the U.S. Government Should Do Next
If the U.S. truly wants to prevent similar tragedies, several changes are necessary like limit the use of lethal weapons in immigration operations, Prioritize de-escalation training, not tactical aggression, Separate immigration enforcement from criminal policing, Ensure independent oversight for any use of deadly force and Treat undocumented immigrants as civilians, not enemies
Immigration is a legal issue. It should not be handled like a war.
At the end of the day, this is not only about laws or borders. It is about human life. A person died. A family lost someone. A community was traumatized. No policy, no law, and no enforcement operation should forget that basic truth. If governments want respect for the law, they must first show respect for human dignity. A Human Issue, Not Just a Legal One
What are your thoughts on this issue?
Do you believe immigration enforcement should prioritize humanity and de-escalatio?
Feel free to share your perspective respectfully in the comments below
Happy weekend my friend
Stay safe.
Do not forget to be happy
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"Thank you so much for your time here. I really appreciate your precious moment here as well. Please leave any comment down below. Let me hear from you. Greetings from Indonesia"
These are frightening times in the states. Truly it feels like what Germany must have felt when the Nazis began invading their communities. In our area I notice our police going to talk to those who might be deported, but it isn't a raid. Yet, you just don't know . When I mailed a package last week there were many getting their passports.
ReplyDeleteHello
DeleteGood evening from Indonesia
Its 9.01 PM here
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Ellie. I understand why many people feel fear and uncertainty during times like this. When enforcement actions create anxiety in everyday spaces, it affects not only immigrants but also the wider community.
I appreciate you pointing out that in your area, authorities are still using communication rather than raids. That contrast shows how different approaches can make a real difference in how safe people feel. My hope is that dialogue, transparency, and humane enforcement remain the priority everywhere.
Thank you
Thanks for your commentary. This incident has certainly made the new and I thought it was strange that the Venezuelan president and his wife was captured. Truly alarming moments here.
ReplyDeleteNo worries
DeleteI saw this in news, it was all over the Scottish news when it happened. Sad indeed, the girl didn't deserve to die. I think people over there are scare and as time goes on they are getting more and more paranoid. The world is getting scary. I fear for the world that my daughter will grow up in. She is only 7. :-(
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ananka. I can feel the worry in your words, especially as a mother. When news like this reaches even Scotland, it shows how serious and disturbing it is.
DeleteI agree with you fear seems to be growing everywhere, and fear often leads people and governments to make terrible decisions. When societies become paranoid, human life can start to feel less protected.
Your daughter deserves to grow up in a world where safety comes from trust and law, not from weapons and fear. That is why these stories matter and why people from different countries should talk about them.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Its just a sad sad story
ReplyDeleteFault on both sides
I agree with you.
DeleteIt is a very sad story. When someone loses their life, no one really wins, no matter who is at fault.
What hurts most is that this situation might have ended differently if fear, tension, and power had not taken over. That is why it is important to talk about these things not to blame for the sake of blaming, but to try to prevent more tragedies in the future.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts
This is what happens when the fearful little men take charge. They're so scared of their own shadows that they react with deadly force to anything. It's a dark time in the US. Our dictator has his secret police force that's out there killing because they can. That's what it is. They think they can get away with this. And as they have been, it's likely they will continue to do so.
ReplyDeleteI understand the anger and fear behind what you wrote. Many people inside and outside the United States are deeply disturbed by what they see happening not just in this case, but in many similar ones over the years.
DeleteWhen deadly force becomes something people expect, rather than something shocking, it signals that something is very wrong in a society. Whether we call it fear, power, or a broken system, the result is the same: ordinary people lose their lives.
From outside the U.S., this is especially worrying because America presents itself as a defender of law, democracy, and human rights. When violence at home and abroad seems to contradict those values, it creates doubt and mistrust around the world.
My article is not about attacking individuals, but about questioning systems that allow violence to become normal. I appreciate you sharing how it feels from inside the country
All different kinds of officers here in the US carry weapons. But they have non-lethal weapons available to them too like tazers, bean bag rifles, pepper guns, rubber bullet guns. They could have shot this woman with any of those, and she would now be in jail instead of dead. It's truly horrible that she died. But I've seen this incident from a lot of different POV's and she did hit one of the officers with her car when she was trying to drive off when they told her to stop. If American's know one thing, it's you stop when an officer of any kind tells you too or you could get shot. It's not the first time something like this has happened.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary, for sharing your perspective from inside the U.S.
DeleteI really appreciate you explaining how police culture and rules work there, especially the idea that people are expected to stop immediately when ordered by an officer.
I agree with you on one important thing: it is truly tragic that a woman lost her life when there were non-lethal options available. That is exactly what troubles many people outside the United States. If tasers, rubber bullets, or other tools exist, then the use of deadly force feels like the last thing that should happen not the first.
I also understand your point that she hit an officer with her car, and that makes the situation more complex. But from a global point of view, many of us still wonder why situations like this escalate so quickly to lethal force in the U.S., especially compared with many other countries.
My article is not meant to attack ordinary Americans or police officers. It is more about how systems of power, fear, and authority sometimes lead to tragic outcomes and how that affects how the world sees the United States today.
Thank you again for joining the discussion. These conversations are important.