ALEX BLOG

Renee Nicole Macklin Goodwas fatally shot on Jan. 7 by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agentJonathan Ross. The shooting came amid an ICE action in Minneapolis, Minnesota, when the 37-year-old mother of three drove her SUV forward near Ross after being told to exit her vehicle.

Widely seenfootage of the deadly encounter has sharply divided the country. Department of Homeland Security officials say Ross acted properly and that Good was engaged in "domestic terrorism"; top Democrats have called for Ross' arrest. New polling finds most American voters think the shooting wasunjustified.

In statements where they called Good "the beautiful light of our family," the woman's four siblings, parents and their attorneys described the shooting as a result of a chance encounter after dropping her 6-year-old child off at school.

"We want to thank everyone who has reached out in support of Renee and our family. The kind of unending care we've been given during this time is exactly the kind that she gave to everyone," Good's family said in a letter shared with USA TODAY. "Nae was the beautiful light of our family and brought joy to anyone she met. She was relentlessly hopeful and optimistic which was contagious. We all already miss her more than words could ever express."

According to the family and their attorneys, Good and wife Becca Good were driving in their car with their dog after dropping off their child when they came across federal agents in their neighborhood engaged in an immigration action. The couple stopped "to observe, with the intention of supporting and helping their neighbors," family attorneys said.

Becca Good exited the SUV shortly before the deadly encounter. Among Good's last words caught on camera, the woman can be heard telling immigration agents, "I'm not mad at you."

"She was our best friend with a seemingly infinite capacity for love. Nae-Nae gave everything she had to take care of her friends and family, and indeed people she never met," Good's family said. "She was our protector, our shoulder to cry on, and our scintillating source of joy."

June Pierce (C) prays during a vigil at a memorial near the site where Renee Good was killed a week ago on Jan. 14, 2026 in Minneapolis. Good was killed by an immigration enforcement agent during an incident in south Minneapolis on January 7. Attorneys representing the family of Renee Good say they are launching an investigation into the fatal shooting and intend to take legal action against the federal government

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Prayer vigil marks one week since Renee Good was killed by ICE agent

June Pierce (C) prays during a vigil at a memorial near the site where Renee Good was killed a week ago on Jan. 14, 2026 in Minneapolis. Good waskilled by an immigration enforcement agentduring an incident in south Minneapolis on January 7. Attorneys representing the family of Renee Good say they arelaunching an investigationinto the fatal shooting and intend to take legal action against the federal government

The new details come as the family announced a Chicago-based law firm islaunching an investigationinto Good's death. The investigation comes as Justice Department officials say there is "no basis" for an investigation in the case. The firm, Romanucci & Blandin, is the same group that represented the family ofGeorge Floydafter he was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis in 2020.

Department of Homeland Security leaders say thecontroversial deploymentof militarized agents to the state is needed to root outfraudagency officials have linked toSomali immigrants.

More:After Renee Good ICE shooting, lawyers for family launch investigation

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Renee Good family reveals new details about the morning she was killed by ICE

The research,published Wednesday in JAMA, is based on a data investigation by NBC News with Stanford University. Mustafa Fattah, medical fellow with NBC News, is lead author on the study.

The researchers analyzed data on medical and nonmedical vaccine exemptions for kindergartners collected from 3,053 U.S. counties and jurisdictions (such as school districts and parishes) across 45 states and the District of Columbia from 2010 to 2024.

In 2010-2011, the median rate for families opting out of vaccination for religious or personal beliefs nationwide was a scant 0.6%. That number rose to 3.1% by the 2023-2024 school year.

In the years following the pandemic, more than 53% of the counties in the study reported an increase of more than 1% in kindergarteners opting out of vaccination for religious or personal reasons.

Dr. Nathan Lo, assistant professor of infectious diseases at Stanford University and an author of the study, said the growth in exemptions is "concerning."

"These may look like small numbers, but they may be enough to be the tipping point for something like measles," Lo said.

All states require certain vaccines for children entering public school. They also allow families to opt out of immunization because of medical conditions. Rates of medical exemptions — a doctor's note that allows children to go to school without the required vaccines — remained stable.

States with the highest post-pandemic rate of nonmedical exemptions include Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Wisconsin and Arizona. In parts of Utah and Idaho, post-pandemic exemption rates topped 20%.

States such as New York, California, Connecticut and Maine thateliminated nonmedical exemptionssaw declines since 2021.

The U.S. is already experiencing the largest outbreaks of measles and whooping cough in years, with most cases among school-age children. In Spartanburg County, South Carolina, an outbreak of measles is escalating. At least 434 cases of measles have been reported since September, with more than half diagnosed in the past week.

Some schools in Spartanburg County have vaccination rates as low as 20%, Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist for the South Carolina Department of Public Health, said during a news briefing Wednesday.

"What's going on in Spartanburg County now is the best example that even small pockets of under-vaccinated people can result in widespread transmission for this highly infectious virus," Bell said.

Dr. Jesse Hackell, a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics said even a small number of vaccine exemptions can contribute to a significant outbreak within a community.

"There are many counties where the vaccine rate is between 90% and 95% and that's low enough to produce a risk for widespread dissemination of a disease," said Hackell, who was not involved in the study.

Dr. Walter Orenstein, professor emeritus at Emory University, said he can't predict whether exemptions will continue to grow. He points to mistrust of doctors, vaccine misinformation spread on social media and disease elimination itself as contributors to the problem.

"Vaccines in a sense, are victims of their own success, because people don't understand what these diseases are," he said. "They don't get to see them, and so they're not afraid of them."

Orenstein believes confusion and hesitancy around vaccines will only grow following Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s recent move tochange the childhood vaccine schedule.

Under the new schedule, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend all children get vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pneumococcal disease, HPV and chickenpox.

Other vaccines will be recommended for "high-risk" groups or recommended based on what's called shared clinical decision-making.

"My fear is it's going to take major resurgences of some of these diseases, like polio, before people realize that the benefits of vaccines far, far exceed any risks. And these can be terrible diseases," Orenstein said.

The reopening around midday came three months ahead of schedule, and business owners say that should give travelers plenty of time to plan their spring and summer road trips. The highway is famously a must for California visitors traveling between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

"Today is a monumental milestone for us," said a relieved Colin Twohig, general manager of the Big Sur River Inn. "We're hitting the light at the end of the tunnel after three long years."

The first shutdown came in January 2023 when a series of powerful atmospheric rivers triggered a major landslide. The highway was buried by mud and rocks again the following year during another wet winter, and a lane also collapsed down a cliff near the Rocky Creek Bridge.

The traffic stoppage between Carmel and Cambria cut off access to Big Sur, an isolated stretch of the state's central coast where misty, forested mountains rise up from the ocean. What used to be a short drive between the southern and northern sections — with tiny Big Sur Village roughly in the middle — became an eight-hour trek inland and then back toward the seashore.

The isolated area, home to fewer than 2,000 residents, is known for its panoramic hiking trails along high cliffs and craggy beaches where seals and sea lions sometimes sprawl out. The late "Tropic of Cancer" author Henry Miller lived there for nearly two decades starting in the 1940s, and there's now a library devoted to his work.

There were multiple closures at various locations throughout the past three years, and the last stretch that remained shut was a 7-mile (11-kilometer) span near Lucia, according to the California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the opening on social media, thanking Caltrans for the speedy work in "reviving a vital economic lifeline for local business owners and residents affected by the closure."

Caltrans, which has called Highway 1 the jewel of the state highway system, deployed remotely operated bulldozers and excavators to safely remove tons of debris in steep terrain. Then crews drilled 4,600 steel bars into the slopes in a grid to patch layers of the hillside together and reduce the risk of future slides, the department said.

California Assemblymember Dawn Addis, a Democrat whose district includes Big Sur, said the restoration will provide a much-needed fiscal boost to the region.

"This turning point will help restore revenue, access to our state parks, support jobs, public safety, and economic stability for many of our residents," Addis said in a statement.

Twohig said he looks forward to seeing tourists in cars and motorhomes back on the road.

He estimated that his inn, with 22 guest rooms, a large restaurant and a general store, saw a 20% drop in business. He said the road closure directly following COVID-19 restrictions was a one-two punch. The inn spent the down time making improvements and marketing heavily to entice California residents to visit during the off-seasons.

"When you have a hospitality business, you really rely on the busy season, and when there is no busy season, it can be a hard pill to swallow," he said. "Having that lifeline back is huge."

WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is suspending processing for immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, a State Department spokesperson said on Wednesday, as part of Washington's intensifying immigration crackdown.

The pause, which will ​impact applicants from Latin American countries including Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay, Balkan countries such as Bosnia and Albania, South Asian countries Pakistan and ‌Bangladesh, and those from many nations in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, will begin on January 21, the spokesperson said.

"The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ‌ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people," said Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the State Department.

"Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits," he added.

The move, which was first reported by Fox News, does not impact U.S. visitor visas, which ⁠have been in the spotlight given the United States ‌is hosting the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.

The decision follows a November directive to U.S. diplomats asking them to ensure that visa applicants are financially self-sufficient and do not risk becoming dependent on government subsidies during their stay ‍in the U.S., according to a State Department cable seen by Reuters at the time.

LEGAL IMMIGRATION

Trump has pursued a sweeping immigration crackdown since returning to office in January. His administration has aggressively prioritized immigration enforcement, sending federal agents to major U.S. cities and sparking violent confrontations with both migrants and U.S. citizens.

While he campaigned on stopping illegal ​immigration into the United States, his administration has also made legal immigration more difficult - for example, by imposing new and expensive fees on the ‌applicants of H-1B visas for highly skilled workers.

"This administration has proven itself to have the most anti-legal immigration agenda in American history," David Bier, Cato's Director of Immigration Studies and The Selz Foundation Chair in Immigration Policy, said in a statement.

"This action will ban nearly half of all legal immigrants to the United States, turning away about 315,000 legal immigrants over the next year alone," Bier said.

The State Department has revoked more than 100,000 visas since Trump took office, it said on Monday. The administration has also adopted a stricter policy on granting visas, with tightened social media vetting and expanded ⁠screening.

Trump, a Republican, captured the White House saying a tougher stance on immigration was ​needed after years of high levels of illegal immigration under his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden.

In ​November, Trump had vowed to "permanently pause" migration from all "Third World Countries" following a shooting near the White House by an Afghan national that killed a National Guard member.

FULL LIST OF COUNTRIES

The list of countries that will be impacted by the suspension, ‍according to a U.S. official, are: ⁠Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, ⁠Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, ‌Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey, Simon ‌Lewis and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Costas Pitas, Rosalba O'Brien and Chizu Nomiyama)

Renee Nicole Macklin Goodwas fatally shot on Jan. 7 by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agentJonathan Ross. The shooting came amid an ICE action in Minneapolis, Minnesota, when the 37-year-old mother of three drove her SUV forward near Ross after being told to exit her vehicle.

Widely seenfootage of the deadly encounter has sharply divided the country. Department of Homeland Security officials say Ross acted properly and that Good was engaged in "domestic terrorism"; top Democrats have called for Ross' arrest. New polling finds most American voters think the shooting wasunjustified.

In statements where they called Good "the beautiful light of our family," the woman's four siblings, parents and their attorneys described the shooting as a result of a chance encounter after dropping her 6-year-old child off at school.

"We want to thank everyone who has reached out in support of Renee and our family. The kind of unending care we've been given during this time is exactly the kind that she gave to everyone," Good's family said in a letter shared with USA TODAY. "Nae was the beautiful light of our family and brought joy to anyone she met. She was relentlessly hopeful and optimistic which was contagious. We all already miss her more than words could ever express."

According to the family and their attorneys, Good and wife Becca Good were driving in their car with their dog after dropping off their child when they came across federal agents in their neighborhood engaged in an immigration action. The couple stopped "to observe, with the intention of supporting and helping their neighbors," family attorneys said.

Becca Good exited the SUV shortly before the deadly encounter. Among Good's last words caught on camera, the woman can be heard telling immigration agents, "I'm not mad at you."

"She was our best friend with a seemingly infinite capacity for love. Nae-Nae gave everything she had to take care of her friends and family, and indeed people she never met," Good's family said. "She was our protector, our shoulder to cry on, and our scintillating source of joy."

June Pierce (C) prays during a vigil at a memorial near the site where Renee Good was killed a week ago on Jan. 14, 2026 in Minneapolis. Good was killed by an immigration enforcement agent during an incident in south Minneapolis on January 7. Attorneys representing the family of Renee Good say they are launching an investigation into the fatal shooting and intend to take legal action against the federal government

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Prayer vigil marks one week since Renee Good was killed by ICE agent

June Pierce (C) prays during a vigil at a memorial near the site where Renee Good was killed a week ago on Jan. 14, 2026 in Minneapolis. Good waskilled by an immigration enforcement agentduring an incident in south Minneapolis on January 7. Attorneys representing the family of Renee Good say they arelaunching an investigationinto the fatal shooting and intend to take legal action against the federal government

The new details come as the family announced a Chicago-based law firm islaunching an investigationinto Good's death. The investigation comes as Justice Department officials say there is "no basis" for an investigation in the case. The firm, Romanucci & Blandin, is the same group that represented the family ofGeorge Floydafter he was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis in 2020.

Department of Homeland Security leaders say thecontroversial deploymentof militarized agents to the state is needed to root outfraudagency officials have linked toSomali immigrants.

More:After Renee Good ICE shooting, lawyers for family launch investigation

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Renee Good family reveals new details about the morning she was killed by ICE

Zelenskiy acted as emergency crews proceeded with round-the-clock efforts ‌to restore power and heating supplies thrown into disarray, particularly in Kyiv, by a Russian attack last week.

Repairs to thousands of apartment ‌blocks have been compounded by frigid weather, with night-time temperatures dipping close to -20 Celsius (minus 4 Fahrenheit).

"The consequences of Russian strikes and deteriorating weather conditions are severe," Zelenskiy wrote in English on the X social media platform.

"Overall, a state of emergency will be declared for Ukraine's energy sector ... Many issues require urgent resolution."

PRESIDENT CALLS FOR MORE ACTION IN ⁠KYIV

Speaking later in his nightly video address, ‌Zelenskiy said not enough had been done to deal with the aftermath of the attacks and the state of emergency would allow authorities "more options and flexibility."

He called for ‍the establishment of more centres where residents can stay warm and charge electronic devices, and said nightly curfews could be lifted in areas where the security situation permitted it.

The president said Kyiv had done considerably less than other major centres, notably ​Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, to prepare for the hardships inflicted by the attacks.

"Even in recent days, I ‌do not see sufficient intensity," he said. "This must be urgently corrected. Decisions must be made."

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, who has previously been at odds with Zelenskiy over the defence of the capital, rejected the president's criticism. Writing on Telegram, he said heating had been restored to all but about 400 of 6,000 affected apartment buildings and support centres were operating 24 hours a day.

"Such statements, first of all, undermine the dedicated work of thousands ⁠of people, professionals," Klitschko wrote. "They may not have weapons in ​their hands, but through their tireless efforts they are also fighting ​for their country."

In his remarks, Zelenskiy said a permanent coordination headquarters would be set up in Kyiv, with Denys Shmyhal, the newly appointed first deputy prime minister and energy minister, ‍overseeing the work.

He said work ⁠was under way "to significantly increase the volume of electricity imports into Ukraine."

He also urged the military to hold their positions along the 1,200-km (775-mile) front line and diplomats to keep pursuing efforts on documents ⁠needed to secure peace.

"From our side, maximum productivity is required," he said. "We expect the same level of energetic work from the American ‌side. I personally very much expect this."

(Reporting by Ron Popeski, Yuliia Dysa and Oleksandr Koizhukhar; ‌editing by Mark Heinrich, Rod Nickel and Diane Craft)

Last fall, Parente defended in courtMarimar Martinez, a U.S. citizen who was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in Chicago and survived. The news out of Minnesota, Parente said, served as a stark reminder of what happened to his client just months earlier.

"I was heartbroken," Parente, a defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, told USA TODAY, "but I wasn't surprised."

Thefatal shooting of Goodby a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent has put a spotlight on previous violent – and sometimes deadly – interactions involving federal agents carrying out theTrump administration's deportation agenda.

Immigration agents have fired upon at least 10 people since August, USA TODAY has found. In each case, agents shot at drivers or into moving cars – a practice that haslargely been discouraged by law enforcementbecause of risks to public safety.

Federal agents continue surge of immigration enforcement in Minnesota

Footage of the incidents shows agents swarming vehicles, smashing windows and trying to pry open car doors within seconds of approaching drivers. On multiple occasions, body camera video and cellphone footage has contradicted federal officials' initial claims about the shootings.

The Department of Homeland Security and federal prosecutors defended the agents and accused drivers of trying to run them over. Of the four drivers charged by federal prosecutors, three have had their charges dropped, court records show.

Similarities between the various shootings have raised concerns among public officials, judges and policing experts over the aggressive tactics used by federal agents nationwide.

"There seems to be a pattern of shoot into vehicles and then justify it by saying the vehicles are trying to run them over," said Geoffrey Alpert, a professor of criminology at the University of South Carolina who specializes in the use of deadly force.

Each year, local police officers stop tens of millions of drivers on American streets, leading to a wealth of best practices and common procedures aimed at mitigating risk to officers and the public.

Alpert and former law enforcement officials said many of the tactics being used by federal agents – from reaching into vehicles to stepping into the path of cars – are in stark contrast to well-known policing standards.

"The growing number of incidents where we see agents resorting to deadly force without any reasonable basis is a recipe for disaster," said David Harris, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania who focuses on police procedure. "These actions," he added, "don't reflect the current thinking of law enforcement generally or best practices."

In a statement, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said "The pattern is not of law enforcement using deadly force. It's a pattern of vehicles being used as weapons by violent agitators to attack our law enforcement."

"When faced with dangerous circumstances, DHS law enforcement used their training to protect themselves, their fellow officers, and the public," she said, adding, "The brave men and women of DHS will not be deterred and will continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. Anyone who attacks law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

What happened to Renee Good?

An ICE agent shot and killed Good on Jan. 7 in a suburban neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis. Videos show multiple agents approaching her SUV as it idled on a residential road, with one of the officers yelling "get out of the (expletive) car."

Within seconds of approaching her, an agent tried to open Good's door. She reversed briefly before moving forward with her wheels turned away from the agents. When her car began to lurch forward, an agent near the front left-side of the SUV drew his gun and shot her at close range.

Videoanalysis by USA TODAYand other outlets shows the agent appeared to be standing just beside the SUV, out of the vehicle's path, when he opened fire.

Aseparate video from the officerwho pulled the trigger shows the agent walking around Good's vehicle before stopping near the front of the SUV. The last thing Good – a U.S. citizen with no criminal history – could be heard saying is "That's fine, dude. I'm not mad at you."

The Trump administration saidthe agent, Jonathan Ross,acted in self-defense andaccused Good of engaging in "domestic terrorism."Trump administration officials – including Vice PresidentJD Vance– pointed to the agent's video to justify their position that he acted appropriately.

Minnesota state and local officials vehemently disputed those claims, calling them "propaganda" and "BS."

While use of force and policing experts called for a full investigation into the shooting, several criticized the agent's actions.

"The officer is moving away from the vehicle as the car slowly turns to the right, away from the direction he's moving," Harris said. "Given what I saw, the use of deadly force is not reasonable."

Feds allege car ramming, appear quick to use 'domestic terrorist' label

In many ways, the deadly shooting in Minneapolis resembles Martinez's shooting in Chicago by a Border Patrol agent. In that October case, DHS officials said Martinez "ambushed" federal agents and "rammed" officers with her car.

Like the shooting in Minneapolis, agency officials within hours described Martinez, who has no criminal history, and another person initially charged in the incident as "domestic terrorists."

"We will not allow domestic terrorists to attack our law enforcement," McLaughlin said ina statement at the time. "If you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

But after a few weeks in court, the case fell apart, leading the Justice Department to drop the charges. The case was ultimately dismissed in November.

In court, the agent walked back the Department of Homeland Security's initial claims that the officers were "rammed" by Martinez."To me, ramming is the front of a vehicle striking another vehicle. And that is not what happened," the agent said, according to a transcript of an evidentiary hearing on Nov. 5.

Exhibits presented in court showed the Border Patrol agent, Charles Exum, apparently bragging about the shooting in a Signal group chat with other federal officers.

"I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys," Exum wrote. In court he explained the text by saying "I'm a firearms instructor. And I take pride in my shooting skills," according to a transcript of an evidentiary hearing in November.

In reaction to being deployed to another city, Exum wrote in another chat, "Cool. I'm up for another round of '(f---) around and find out'" – a reference to FAFO, internet slang that's become a fixture ofsocial media postsand statements by officials in the Trump administration.

When asked about the meaning of that text, which was sent less than 72 hours after the shooting, the agent told the court, "I would be up for another round of ... that means illegal actions have legal consequences."

"And you're up for it?" asked Parente.

"That's my job," Exum replied.

Videos show agents firing at moving vehicles

Several incidents raised concerns about immigration agents firing at moving vehicles, a major safety hazard that's been increasingly prohibited by law enforcement agencies nationwide.

In August in San Bernardino, California, multiple immigration officers swarmed the vehicle of Francisco Javier Longoria, an undocumented immigrant. Videos show he drove away from agents after one began smashing his driver's side window. Seconds after his truck started moving forward, multiple shots can be heard.

The truck had bullet holes on the passenger side where Longoria's 18-year-old son, a U.S. citizen, was seated, videos show. Harris, the law professor, watched footage of the incident and said it's "by sheer luck that the passenger was not killed."

A similar incident unfolded in Franklin Park, Illinois, the next month, and ended with the death of a civilian.

Federal agents shot and killed Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, a 38-year-old Mexican immigrant, after they say he resisted arrest and "dragged" an agent with his car. Video evidence from the scene shows the agent describe his wounds as "nothing major."

Videos also show one of the agents reaching into the vehicle just before Villegas-Gonzalez steps on the gas – a move that is not in accordance with longstanding police procedures.

"That's a huge no-no," said Seth Stoughton, a former Tallahassee police officer and law professor at the University of South Carolina. "The tactical approach that policing has emphasized for decades is: 'don't reach into a car, don't overextend, don't reach for the keys.'"

Police department and federal agencies also discourage officers from shooting at moving vehicles. Astudy commissionedby U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 2013 recommended the agency prohibit officers from shooting at moving cars unless "deadly physical force is being used … by means other than a moving vehicle."

The authors of the report reviewed 15 cases in which agents shot at moving cars and found that officers had often put themselves in harm's way, "exposing themselves to additional risk and creating justification for the use of deadly force," the report said.

According to its latest policy document, the Department of Homeland Security allows agents to shoot at vehicles if there's an "imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury," including from the vehicles themselves.

Immigrant fatally shot after dragging ICE agent with car: See photos from the scene

Former law enforcement officers say shooting at a driver poses a risk to public safety because, if a driver is incapacitated, the vehicle can become an "unguided missile."

In the Minneapolis and Franklin Park shootings, the drivers were killed and their vehicles continued careening down public roads before crashing into other cars. There were no reports of injuries from the collisions.

Agent shoots TikTok creator, US Marshal injured by gunfire

In December, a federal judge dismissed charges against a Los Angeles-based TikTok creator who was shot by a federal agent. In that case, prosecutors accused Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a Mexican national, of ramming into law enforcement vehicles in an "attempt to dislodge his car during an immigration arrest."

During the incident, a federal agent opened fire, wounding Parias as well as a deputy U.S. Marshal who was struck by a ricochet bullet, prosecutors said.

Body camera footage obtained by theLos Angeles Timesraised serious questions about the agent's conduct.

The footage shows the ICE agent holding a gun in one hand as he smashes Parias' passenger-side window, the outlet reported. As the agent attempts to open the passenger door, he moves the gun into his other hand before firing. The Times reported that at the time, Parias' car did not appear to be moving and other agents could be seen near the driver's side door.

Similar to the shootings in Minneapolis, Chicago and San Bernardino, video of the incident challenged the initial claims by federal prosecutors and Department of Homeland Security officials.

On other occasions, information from local police has challenged the Department of Homeland Security's accounts.

Last week, the agency walked back claims that two men in Maryland were inside a vehicle that allegedly rammed into federal officers, leading one agent to fire "defensive" shots. The change came after the Anne Arundel County Police Department announced that one of the two people was in ICE custody at the time of the shooting.

"It's unprofessional," said Alpert, pointing to what he described as a rush to judgment by federal law enforcement officials soon after the shootings. "How can you make these judgements without a thorough investigation? I think it's doing everyone a disservice."

Will the agents face any recourse for shootings?

After the Minneapolis shooting, Martinez called Parente in a panic.

"She called me from work, distraught and heartbroken," Parente said. "It could have easily been her had these bullets traveled an inch to either side."

The two discussed the similarities of the cases and what Parente described as the "nearly identical conduct" of the agents involved.

Like the ICE agent in Minneapolis, the Border Patrol officer who shot Martinez had worked for the Department of Homeland Security for over a decade, according to court records. The agent, Exum, was posted on the Canadian border in Maine before he was dispatched to Chicago.

After the shooting, Exum turned over his gun but was able to leave within days back to Maine. He was soon in conversations about being deployed to another U.S. city, court records show. When asked if he had ever faced suspension over the shooting in Chicago, he told the court he hadn't.

So far, none of the agents involved in the shootings has been publicly suspended or reprimanded. McLaughlin, a spokesperson for DHS, said shootings involving ICE agents are reviewed by an "appropriate investigative agency" as well as internally.

After the shooting in Minneapolis, Vice President JD Vance said the officer has"absolute immunity,"which legal experts have challenged. As Democrats and state officials call for independent investigations, former law enforcement agents and police experts say they're worried that without accountability more violence will follow.

"It's very concerning," Harris said. "Having this type of policing operation with a very strong willingness to use force is just a recipe for more of these shootings."

This story was updated to add comments from the Department of Homeland Security.Christopher Cann is a national breaking news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact him via email at ccann@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:ICE, Border Patrol shootings fit pattern in Minneapolis, Chicago, LA