On Jan. 17, approximately 100 people marched around the courthouse in downtown Goshen, holding signs and standing together in subzero temperatures. Protesters’ signs featured different topics, including opposing ICE, calling for peace, advocating against wars and demanding the release of the Epstein files.
The protest was called the Global Day of Action, and a few other states participated, such as Pennsylvania. Many different cities in Indiana held protests specifically against ICE and justice for Renée Good, a 37-year-old murdered by ICE agents in Minneapolis, as well. For many of the Goshen protesters, they were very willing to brave the cold weather and speak out against the acts they found to be unjust.
“My faith tells me that justice is important for everyone, including immigrants,” Karen Miller-Rush, a 61-year-old Goshen resident said.
“[In the midterms this year] we won’t be voting for those who do not support immigrants or who are supportive of ICE tactics,” Joy Hess, an 86-year-old Goshen resident who was standing with Miller-Rush, said. “We’re supporting people who aren’t for retribution of their neighbors or enemies.”
This protest is one of the hundreds that occurred this year alone, caused by anger over current government actions. Even though we are only a few weeks into the new year, violence against protesters opposing ICE is in full swing. In 2025, many people were detained and taken into ICE custody, and 32 people died in ICE custody. On New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles, Keith Porter, Jr., a 43-year-old father, was shot by an ICE agent, who was later identified as Brian Palacios. This was the first recorded shooting by federal agents. Palacios was off duty and was not injured.
Another shooting by an ICE agent occurred a week later, when on Jan. 9, Minneapolis resident Renée Good was shot three times in her car by Jonathan Ross. ICE officials falsely claimed Ross was hit by Good’s car.
“It feels lawless in this country. And the people in the highest power cannot follow our major law of the constitution. How do they expect anything good to come out of this?” Kathy Grant, a 61-year-old Goshen resident, said.
Protests around the country continue, despite the risk that the ICE agents will be aggressive and violent against the protesters, using tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and pepper spray at close range. People keep showing up and to support immigrants in the U.S., call to abolish ICE and honor the lives that have been lost like Good and Porter.
A week after the protest, on Jan. 24, 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti was shot at least five times while attempting to direct traffic and defend other community members on a street with heavy ICE presence. (Read this issue’s Takeaway for more information.)
Recently, President Donald Trump has threatened to cut funding from sanctuary cities, though he has not been specific about what this means. He did give the deadline of Feb. 1. On Jan. 13, Trump spoke at the Detroit Economic Club about places that limit their cooperation with federal agents.
“They do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens. And it breeds fraud and crime and all of the other problems that come,” Trump said. “So we’re not making any payment to anybody that supports sanctuary cities.”
In his first term, Trump tried to withhold funding from sanctuary cities, but judges are not allowing that to pass, most siding against the administration.
“More people need to step up and understand what’s happening,” Grant said. “It’s so easy to just say, well I have to live my life. I get that. I have to live my life too. But we’re just trying to get people to realize what’s going on.”
