Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem discouraged reporting the name of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer involved in the deadly Minneapolis shooting.
On Jan. 7, ICE officer Jonathan Ross shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good after she allegedly “weaponized” her vehicle and drove into the officer. In new footage released by the Department of Homeland Security on Sunday, Good is seen blocking federal vehicles and traffic where ICE was operating before officers approached her vehicle.
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Noem appeared on CBS News’s Face the Nation on Sunday, where she defended the officer because he “relied on his training” even though it resulted in what Noem called a “tragedy.”
“Let me talk to you about the officer, Jonathan Ross. He was struck, he was hospitalized—” CBS host Margaret Brennan said before Noem interrupted.
“Don’t say his name,” Noem said. “For heaven’s sakes, we shouldn’t have people continue to dox law enforcement when they have an 8,000% increase in death threats against them.”
“His name is public,” Brennan said.
“I know, but that doesn’t mean it should continue to be said. He got attacked with a car that was trying to take his life, and people have attacked him and his family. And they are in jeopardy,” Noem said.
Noem would not comment on his health condition but assured Ross is “healing.” The department is “following the exact same investigative and review process that we always have,” according to Noem. However, the secretary would not confirm whether Ross was back on the job or not, as his actions are being reviewed.
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Ross was also “dragged” in a vehicle ramming months before, according to Noem. This comes as the Department of Homeland Security reported assaults against ICE officers surged by 1,153% in 11 months.
During the Jan. 7 incident in Minneapolis, DHS said Ross suffered internal bleeding in his torso as a result of being struck by Good’s car.
