ICE Terrorizes More Neighborhoods

1.9.26

Happy Friday and welcome to today’s edition of Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Today’s breakdown includes Russia’s latest strikes on Ukraine, two more ICE shootings in Portland, a (very) stagnant economy, and growing anti-ICE protests across Minneapolis.

Let’s break it down.

Two More Shot In Portland by ICE Agents….Two people were wounded in Portland after a Border Patrol agent opened fire during a targeted vehicle stop that federal officials are calling self-defense. The shooting came just one day after an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen and mother, in Minneapolis under similarly disputed circumstances. In both cases, the Department of Homeland Security claimed the individuals “weaponized” their vehicles, while local officials and witnesses questioned those accounts. The FBI is now investigating the Portland shooting, as city leaders condemn the escalation of federal enforcement actions and call for ICE operations to be paused pending a full review.

Common Sense Takeaway: Two shootings in two days, two claims that cars were “weaponized,” and zero independent evidence offered up front is not a coincidence. This is what happens when you militarize civil enforcement, drop unaccountable armed agents into communities, and then act shocked when people get hurt or killed. Law enforcement is supposed to reduce danger, not manufacture it.

Russia Fires Nuclear-Capable Missile at Ukraine…..Russia launched one of its largest air assaults of the war overnight, firing 242 drones and 36 missiles at Ukraine, including a rare intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads. While Ukrainian defenses intercepted most of the attack, at least 19 sites were hit across the country, including Kyiv, where residential buildings were damaged, civilians were killed, and dozens were injured. Moscow claims the strike was retaliation for a supposed Ukrainian attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence—an allegation Ukraine and Western analysts say is fabricated. Ukrainian officials warn that using this class of missile so close to NATO and EU borders is a dangerous escalation meant to justify continued aggression and test the world’s response.

Common Sense Takeaway: The Kremlin is manufacturing a crisis to justify more violence and derail diplomacy. This is what escalation looks like in real time: invent a provocation, accuse your enemy, then use it as cover to bomb civilians and harden your position. It’s propaganda.

U.S. Job Growth Slows to Weakest Year Since the Pandemic….Jobs growth slowed sharply in December, with the U.S. adding just 50,000 jobs—capping the weakest year for hiring since the pandemic. Only 584,000 jobs were created in all of 2025, far below the pace of the previous two years, as government job cuts, immigration restrictions, and prolonged shutdown-related data delays weighed on the labor market. While unemployment dipped slightly to 4.4%, that decline was partly due to statistical adjustments rather than stronger hiring. Economists say the job market is stable but cooling, meaning fewer opportunities for workers looking to switch jobs and a slower path forward for growth, even as wages continue to rise modestly and layoffs remain relatively contained.

Common Sense Takeaway: Fewer jobs means less leverage, fewer opportunities to move up, and more people stuck where they are. While Trump plays games with government agencies and immigration policy gets weaponized for politics, workers are left with a terrible job market and no backup plan.

Protests Erupt in Minneapolis After Woman Killed by ICE…Federal officers used pepper balls and chemical irritants to disperse protesters outside the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis on Thursday, escalating tensions a day after 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE officer during an enforcement operation. Hundreds gathered to protest the killing, including families and first-time demonstrators, as anger and fear spread through the community amid an influx of federal agents. Witnesses and journalists on the scene described officers firing crowd-control weapons at close range, surging into demonstrators, and detaining at least one person after a snowball was thrown. Protesters said the heavy law enforcement presence was disrupting daily life and unnecessarily creating a climate of fear, while officials have not yet publicly responded to questions about the use of force.

Common Sense Takeaway: When federal officers respond to grief and protest with pepper balls and chemical irritants, they aren’t keeping the peace—they’re escalating fear. This is why de-escalation training is so important. Communities are mourning, showing up to exercise their right to protest, and instead of answers or accountability, they get militarized intimidation by these officers cosplaying as legitimate law enforcement.

That’s it for today. Thanks for reading Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Check back on Monday for more.