As followers of Jesus, how should we respond to the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent after she hit him with her SUV on January 7?
How can we rise above the feverish partisan rhetoric as our nation reaches a boiling point? What can we do to bring God’s wisdom and truth into this volatile and tragic situation? How should we conduct ourselves as His representatives here on earth?
On the Republican side, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Good “weaponized her vehicle” and attempted to run over the ICE agent in an act of “domestic terrorism.” This was seconded by Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, while Vice President Vance referred to her as a “deranged leftist.” And an influential conservative commentator described Good as one of the Democrats’ “brain-dead, frothing rental activists.”
On the Democrat side, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey labelled the claim that the ICE agent, Jonathan Ross, acted in self-defense as “bull***.” Frey further stated that these agents “are not here to create safety in this city, what they are doing is causing chaos and distrust. They are ripping families apart, sowing chaos in our streets, and in this case are literally killing people.” In this same spirit, a protestor in Manhattan referred to Good’s killing as “state-sanctioned murder.”
In the midst of such hostility, mistrust, and rage, how can we take hold of what the Bible describes as “the wisdom that is from above” in contrast with “wisdom that is from below,” which is a false wisdom that is at best carnal and at worst demonic? (See James 3:13-18). How can we function as peacemakers and as salt and light, in accordance with the teachings of Jesus, without compromising truth and ethics? (See Matt 5:9, 13-16.)
First, we need to weigh our words carefully and prayerfully before we speak or write. More importantly, is there a reason to say anything at all? Will our comments be helpful? Will they bring light and clarity or just heat and noise? In our instant-response world, this is a crucial step we often forget to take. Millions of words have been spoken. Do we need to add our words as well? To what purpose?
So, before we say anything publicly, especially if we are worked up emotionally, let’s remember these two biblical exhortations:
“When words are many, sin is not absent, but whoever restrains his tongue is wise” (Prov 10:19).
And, “let every person be quick to hear [do we even listen?], slow to speak [do we even think before we write?], slow to anger [do we even consider that?]” (Jam 1:19).
Second, if we do come to the conclusion that it’s time for us to speak and that we can add something helpful to the conversation, let’s lead with compassion.
Even if we consider the actions of Good to be reckless, idiotic, and illegal, she was a 37-year-old mother of three with full-time custody of her 6-year-old son. He will live the rest of his life without her. Adding to the tragedy is the fact that the boy’s father, Timmy Ray Macklin Jr., died at the age of 36 in 2023.
Good’s last words, spoken with a smile to one of the ICE agents, captured on video moments before she was killed, were, “I’m not mad at you. I’m not mad at anyone.”
If we find nothing heartbreaking in this story, nothing that evokes our sympathy, then something is missing from our humanity, let alone from our intimacy with the Lord.
It follows, then, that if we cannot lead with compassion, we should refrain from speaking at all.
But it’s not just about Good’s untimely death. Can we also understand why some are defending ICE agent Jonathan Ross’s actions? Less than seven months ago, while in the line of duty, he was the victim of a vehicular attack, one that could have been fatal.
According to a DHS spokesperson,
“On June 17th [2024] in a suburb outside of Minneapolis, this exact same officer was making a lawful arrest of a child pedophile, a child sex offender, when he reached his arm into the subject’s vehicle and that subject started closing the window, he drove off and dragged that officer for 50 yards.” As a result, he received “33 stitches and abrasions all over his body.”
Can we have some sympathy for Ross, acting in the heat of the moment, perhaps feeling that his life was in danger again, even if we are convinced that there was absolutely no justification for his use of deadly force?
Can we have a heart for all the human beings involved? (For the record, Ross, an Iraq war veteran, is married to a Filipino immigrant, and they have two children.)
We should have a heart for all of those involved in this painful incident, as each one was created in the image of God with divine purpose and destiny. For those on the right, the fact that Good was in a lesbian relationship shouldn’t diminish the depth of the tragedy. For those on the left, the fact that Ross was acting under Trump’s authority shouldn’t diminish the challenging situation he faced.
Third, we must be willing to challenge the popular arguments that reinforce our own point of view, giving a genuine hearing to those who see things differently than we do. Let us not be like the fool, as described in Proverbs 18:2, “Fools find no pleasure in understanding but rather in airing their own opinions.” (We do well to we keep this verse in mind 24 hours a day!)
As for the video evidence in the shooting, some will conclude that Good became scared by what was happening once an ICE agent tried to open her car door, yelling, “Get the f*** out of the vehicle.” In a panic, she tried to drive away, turning her wheel to the right, away from Ross. Others will come to the opposite conclusion, convinced that she intentionally tried to hit him, prompting his lethal response.
Can we recognize that there is at least some ambiguity in the video evidence, especially when sincere people on both sides see things so differently? Attributing bias or malice or willful dishonesty to everyone who has a different opinion than we do is neither helpful nor accurate.
In volatile times like this, it is vital that we do our best to understand the positions of those on the other side of the political divide, endeavoring to see things through their eyes, considering viewpoints that are outside the safety of our own echo chambers. Having done that, our responses will have the real potential of producing understanding rather than engaging in endless and fruitless arguments that only lead to more dissension. We will not be punching the air, and what we contribute to the discussion will carry much more weight.
As for the larger issues, can Trump supporters understand why some on the left are so concerned about the presence of ICE agents in their cities? In the words of a Hispanic leader in North Carolina, “The kids didn't want to go to school, because they were afraid to come back home and not find their parents. Not only that, kids started getting bullied at school, questioned by some people at school if they were documented.”
Should a hardworking family man who has been here for 20 years, with all his children born and raised in the States, be treated in the same way as a violent gang member? Could they be offered a path to citizenship, with penalties, rather than automatic arrest and deportation?
You may give no credence to this point of view, but can you understand it? It is concerns like this which have fueled some of the anti-ICE protests, as the agents come into a city armed and wearing masks, without presenting identification. In some cases, they have arrested the innocent along with the guilty.
And what about the many Old Testament verses that call for the compassionate treatment of the alien and stranger, like these? “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Lev 19:33-34).
For those who say, “But laws are laws,” we must remember that compassion was built into the very laws of God. There are also examples in the Old Testament where valid exceptions were made to the otherwise strict laws of the Torah (see 2 Chr 30:13-20).
Conversely, can the anti-Trump camp understand how many illegal immigrants have flooded our borders in recent years, including some really dangerous criminals, also draining our economy in the process? Do we understand that ICE has successfully arrested some incredibly bad apples and that without laws, there is chaos? The Bible certainly has much to say about the importance of upholding the law.
According to Homeland Security,
“Governor Pritzker’s Sanctuary Illinois Released More than 1,700 Criminal Illegal Aliens Including Murderers, Pedophiles, and Kidnappers.”
This is what ICE is fighting, under the authority of the US government, yet their efforts are being thwarted by protesters, some of them allegedly paid just to show up and make a scene.
Again, you might differ with this perspective, but can you understand it? And if you are anti-ICE, can you understand why many concerned citizens see these protests as ugly manifestations of rebellion and lawlessness, no different than the Antifa and BLM riots?
Whatever your perspective, I encourage you to ask yourself these questions before weighing in.
First, should I say anything at all? Will it please the Lord? Will it be genuinely helpful?
Second, do I have compassion for those who are suffering right now, on both on the left and on the right?
Third, do I understand all sides of the debate? Am I genuinely seeking truth? Can I rise above the partisan fray?
If you do speak or write, may the Lord give you wisdom, and may your words be filled with grace and truth. And may the world learn more about Jesus through what you say and how you say it.