Rep. Ro Khanna Urges Arrest of ICE Agent
Ro Khanna prosecution ICE agent Jonathan Ross
California Representative Ro Khanna has intensified his calls for legal accountability following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old U.S. citizen by a federal agent in Minneapolis. On Monday, January 12, 2026, the progressive lawmaker publicly demanded the arrest and prosecution of Jonathan Ross, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent identified as the shooter in the January 7 incident. In a statement shared on social media, Khanna characterized the shooting of Renee Nicole Good as a “reckless use of power” and argued that the video evidence contradicts the federal government’s claims of self-defense. The Representative asserted that for the rule of law to be maintained, federal agents must not be allowed to operate with “impunity,” especially when their actions result in the death of a civilian in a residential neighborhood.
The demand for prosecution is part of a broader legislative push by Khanna and Representative Jasmine Crockett to implement stricter oversight of federal immigration enforcement. The proposed “ICE Accountability Act” would require all agents to wear body cameras, maintain visible identification at all times, and cease the practice of wearing masks during operations. Khanna emphasized that the current lack of independent oversight has allowed for a “militarized” approach to immigration that endangers both citizens and law enforcement officers. By calling for a criminal trial, Khanna is directly challenging the Trump administration’s narrative, which has framed the shooting as a justifiable response to an act of “domestic terrorism.” The lawmaker’s stance has become a rallying point for House Democrats who are now threatening to use upcoming DHS funding deadlines to force changes in agency policy.
The controversy surrounding Jonathan Ross has been further complicated by the agent’s history and the administration’s defense of his actions. Federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Vice President JD Vance, have noted that Ross was seriously injured in a similar vehicle-related incident six months prior. They argue that this past trauma informed his split-second decision to fire when Good allegedly attempted to use her vehicle as a weapon. However, Khanna and other critics point to bystander footage which they claim shows Good’s vehicle moving away from the agents, rather than toward them, at the moment the fatal shots were fired. Khanna has dismissed the administration’s focus on the agent’s past injuries as an attempt to “gaslight” the public and distract from the specific facts of the Minneapolis encounter.+1
As the FBI continues its exclusive investigation into the shooting, the political rift between Washington and Minnesota shows no signs of mending. Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey have echoed Khanna’s concerns, expressing deep skepticism that a federal inquiry without state involvement can produce a fair or transparent outcome. The standoff has led to a surge of nearly 2,000 additional federal agents to the Twin Cities, a move that the Minnesota state government is currently challenging in court as an “unlawful” and “unprecedented” overreach. For Representative Khanna, the prosecution of Jonathan Ross is not merely about a single incident, but about resetting the boundaries of federal power in American cities. The lawmaker has vowed to continue his advocacy for the Good family, who recently received over $1.5 million in public donations as they navigate the loss of a mother and wife.
