A supervisor in the FBI’s Minneapolis field office has resigned after facing pressure over her handling of an inquiry into the actions of an ICE officer who fatally shot Renee Nicole Good earlier this month.
Tracee Mergen, who oversaw fraud and public corruption investigations, reportedly stepped down amid internal disputes regarding the Justice Department’s (DOJ) approach to the incident and broader enforcement policies in Minnesota.
Good’s death earlier this month has heightened tensions in Minneapolis, with video footage showing her attempting to drive toward ICE agent Jonathan Ross during an immigration enforcement operation.
Federal officials maintain Ross acted in self-defense, while local leaders and witnesses have questioned that account.
Mergen had initiated a civil rights inquiry into Ross’s actions, but sources indicate that bureau leadership in Washington pressured her to curtail the investigation.
Frustration reportedly grew over the DOJ’s refusal to pursue charges and the Trump administration’s characterization of peaceful protesters in Minnesota as potential domestic terrorists, according to The Gateway Pundit.
The FBI declined to comment on Mergen’s resignation.
“The FBI doesn’t comment on personnel matters,” the agency said. “The facts on the ground do not support a civil rights investigation. FBI continues to investigate the incident as well as the violent criminal actors and those perpetrating illegal activity.”
Following the shooting, pro-law enforcement groups raised more than $1 million to support Ross and his family, who were reportedly subjected to online exposure of the agent’s identity.
Federal authorities also removed items from his home for security reasons.
The DOJ opened a separate criminal investigation into Good’s widow for her alleged involvement in events leading up to the fatal encounter.
Earlier reports claimed that six federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned last week, reportedly due to pressure to participate in the probe. However, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that those individuals were terminated.
Local law enforcement agencies have been largely excluded from federal oversight in the investigation, according to The Guardian.
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said his agency “reluctantly withdrew” due to restrictions on evidence and access.
Democrats have criticized the federal government for obstructing local oversight, while federal officials cite standard protocols for limiting local involvement.
Mergen’s resignation comes amid a second Minneapolis shooting involving federal agents—the death of Alex Pretti—underscoring the growing tension surrounding ICE operations in the state.
Both incidents have fueled public protests and scrutiny of federal law enforcement practices in Democrat-led jurisdictions.
Trump administration officials have defended Ross’s actions, with senior leaders describing the incident as self-defense.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that Ross was placed on a three-day administrative leave in line with protocol, and Vice President JD Vance stated that the officer is shielded by “absolute immunity,” The Hill reported.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have publicly criticized the federal response.
Both have been subpoenaed by the DOJ for allegedly obstructing the ICE investigation. Walz called the subpoenas a “partisan distraction,” while Frey accused the administration of using federal authority to intimidate local officials performing their duties.
As tensions continue to rise, Mergen’s departure highlights ongoing friction between federal law enforcement objectives and local oversight in Minnesota, raising questions about the balance between enforcement, civil rights, and accountability.
