The vice president said Minnesota prosecutors should instead investigate people who “are using their vehicles and other means” to interfere with ICE’s operations.
By Julia Conley
Common Dreams
When Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters at a press briefing Thursday that Jonathan Ross, the federal immigration agent who was filmed fatally shooting Renee Good in Minneapolis, has “absolute immunity,” he was not referring to any recognized statute in United States law, according to legal experts.
Instead, said Human Rights Campaign press secretary Brandon Wolf, “masked federal agents who can gun people down with ‘absolute immunity’ is called fascism.”
Vance addressed reporters at the White House the day after Good was fatally shot at close range while serving as a legal observer of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) surge of federal agents in Minneapolis, where the Trump administration is targeting members of the Somali community in particular.
Widely available footage taken by onlookers shows ICE agents including Ross approaching the car and, according to at least one witness, giving her conflicting instructions, with one ordering her to leave the area and another telling her to get out of the car.
The wheel of Good’s car was seen turning as she began to drive away, just before Ross fired his weapon at least three times.
President Donald Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Vance immediately blamed Good for her death, saying she had committed an act of domestic terrorism and had tried to run Ross over with her car.
Vance doubled down on Thursday when a reporter asked him why state officials in Minnesota were being cut off from investigating Good’s death—a fact that has left the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which had been planning to launch a probe, with few tools to bring a case to prosecutors.
The vice president said Minnesota prosecutors should instead investigate people who “are using their vehicles and other means” to interfere with ICE’s operations before claiming that Ross is protected from being held accountable for his actions.
“That guy’s protected by absolute immunity,” said Vance. “He was doing his job. The idea that [Minnesota Gov.] Tim Walz and a bunch of radicals in Minneapolis are going to go after him and make this guy’s life miserable because he was doing the job that he was asked to do is preposterous.”
Vance: He is protected by absolute immunity. He was doing his job. The idea that Tim Walz and a bunch of radicals are going to go after him and make his life miserable because he was doing the job that he was asked to do is preposterous. pic.twitter.com/AfwpFvhLsC
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 8, 2026
Robert Bennett, a veteran lawyer in Minneapolis, told Mother Jones that he has worked on hundreds of cases regarding federal law enforcement misconduct.
“I’ve deposed thousands of police officers,” he said. “ICE agents do not have absolute immunity.”
He continued:
There’s plenty of case law that allows for the prosecution of federal law enforcement agencies, including ICE. And it’s clear under the law that a federal officer who shoots somebody in Minnesota and kills them is subject to a Minnesota investigation and Minnesota law.
Mary Moriarty, the Hennepin County attorney, whose jurisdiction includes Minneapolis, appeared incredulous Friday when asked about Vance’s claim.
To be clear, DHS law enforcement do not have “absolute immunity.” That is simply false. https://t.co/cWdZMFFOOK
— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) January 9, 2026
“I can’t speak to why the Trump administration is doing what it’s doing or says what it says,” she told a reporter before adding unequivocally, “the ICE officer does not have complete immunity here.”
Q: Is this ICE officer immune to charges?
HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY MORIARTY: I can’t speak to why the Trump administration says what it says. I can say the ICE officer does not have complete immunity here. pic.twitter.com/N2ThNOun6w
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 9, 2026
Constitutional law expert Michael J.Z. Mannheimer of Northern Kentucky University told CNN that more than a century of legal precedent has shown that state prosecutors can file charges against federal officials for actions they take while completing their official duties.
“The idea that a federal agent has absolute immunity for crimes they commit on the job is absolutely ridiculous,” Mannheimer said.
Should the state take up the case, Ross could attempt to raise an immunity argument if he were able to move the case to a federal court, where a judge would then conduct a two-part analysis—determining whether Ross was acting in his official capacity and whether his action was “reasonable” considering all the facts on the ground, gathered from video evidence and eyewitness testimony.
While holding Ross accountable may be an uphill battle, former federal prosecutor Timothy Sini told CNN, “officers are not entitled to absolute immunity as a matter of law,” contrary to Vance’s claim.
Gun control advocate David Hogg called the vice president’s comments “insanely dangerous.”
“Just so you all understand what our vice tyrant is saying here this means ICE is allowed to shoot and kill Americans with ZERO consequences,” said Hogg. “It’s important to note that absolute immunity is something that basically no cop gets. It goes even beyond qualified immunity.”
WAKE THE FUCK UP PEOPLE If having masked agents of the government be able to literally fucking shoot you and face zero consequences whatsoever is not a form of tyranny- I don’t know what the fuck is. Vance is saying ICE can do whatever they want. This is insanely dangerous https://t.co/KTyCgCxVPn
— David Hogg ? (@davidhogg111) January 9, 2026
Police officers are typically shielded from liability for civil damages by qualified immunity, provided they can prove their actions did not violate “clearly established” constitutional rights. “Absolute immunity” is typically applied to judges, prosecutors, and legislators who are acting within their official duties.
On Friday, US Reps. Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announced they would introduce a bill aimed at stripping ICE officers of qualified immunity.
Goldman noted that under current law, it would be difficult to prosecute an ICE agent because the legal standard “allows for the officer’s own view to carry a lot of weight.”
“So what this bill does is only for civil enforcement officers—not criminal enforcement officers who are dealing with real bad guys, not moms driving cars—it would say that it’s an objective test,” he said on a podcast by the New Republic. “And if you are acting completely outside of your duties and responsibilities, you don’t have immunity from a civil lawsuit, and you don’t have a defense from a criminal charge.”
Goldman added that the bill would make clear that ICE agents’ “only authority is to investigate and civilly arrest immigrants for immigration violations.”
“And so they should have never been in the situation they were in, where they were trying to take a woman out of a car,” he said. “That was not part of what they should be doing. They could ask her to move if they needed to. It doesn’t look like from the video that she was doing anything that was obstructing them.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who has expressed outrage over Good’s killing and demanded that ICE leave the city immediately, called Vance’s claims about absolute immunity “pretty bizarre” and “extremely concerning” in comments to reporters on Friday, and called on the press to “get to a point where we’re not trusting everything that [administration officials] are saying.”
“That’s not true in any law school in America, whether it’s Yale or Villanova or anywhere else,” said Frey. “That’s not true. If you break the law, if you do things that are outside the outside the area of what your job responsibilities require, and this clearly seems to be at the very least, at the very least, this is gray… This is a problem and it should be investigated.”
Frey: I think he also asserted that because you work at the federal government that you somehow have absolute immunity from committing crimes. That’s not true in any law school in America, whether it’s Yale or Villanova or anywhere else. That’s not true pic.twitter.com/kqEwYdeVMI
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 9, 2026
Vance’s comments, said political scientist Norman Ornstein, made clear that “we are in a police state.”
“The notion expressed by Trump, Vance and Noem that there is absolute immunity for a cold blooded murder if it’s carried out by one of their agents is the final straw,” he said. “If we do not turn this around, we are done for as a free society and a decent country.”
Julia Conley is a staff writer for Common Dreams.
This article is from Common Dreams.
Views expressed in this article and may or may not reflect those of Consortium News.
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The Rabbits Foot – A Real Charmer
————————-
AI Overview
The lucky rabbit’s foot is a long-standing, globally recognized amulet believed to bring good fortune, ward off evil, and, historically, improve health. Its origins are a blend of ancient European, specifically Celtic, beliefs and American “hoodoo” (African American folk magic) traditions. It is fundamentally a “talisman against evil” that was developed through the belief that certain creatures, and by extension their body parts, possessed supernatural powers to protect humans and bring prosperity.
Here is a breakdown of the meanings, history, and concepts associated with the charm:
1. Meanings and Symbolism
Good Luck and Fortune: The most common association, it is carried to bring good luck in gambling and general life.
Protection against Evil: Often viewed as a, counter-culture talisman, it is used to neutralize, or “do unto Others,” the harmful effects of evil or “dangerous others”.
Fertility and Abundance: Due to the rabbit’s high reproductive rate, the foot has historically been tied to fertility, aiding in conception, and ensuring prosperity.
Protection against Illness: Historically, from the 16th to 19th centuries, it was used by Europeans to protect against ailments such as gout, cramps, and rheumatism.
2. History and Origins
Celtic Origins (c. 600 BC): Ancient Celtic tribes believed that because rabbits burrowed underground, they could communicate directly with gods and underworld spirits.
European Folklore (Middle Ages): The rabbit’s foot may have connections to the “Hand of Glory,” a medieval, grisly, and now, ironically, lucky charm that was often a pickled hand of a hanged man.
Witchcraft Beliefs (1800s): In early 18th/19th century Europe and America, it was believed that witches could shape-shift into rabbits. Killing a rabbit—specifically in a, and, with, and, on—was thought to be killing a witch, making the foot a, protective,, against, evil.
Hoodoo and American Folklore: The modern lucky rabbit’s foot grew out of,, African American folk magic (hoodoo), where it often substituted for human bones in, protection, rituals.
Commercialization (Early 20th Century): By the 1900s, the, was, as, a, and, were, by, to, a, or, , and, to, as, as, on, and, , and, of, , such as the left hind foot of a “graveyard rabbit” (a rabbit killed in a graveyard).
3. Cultural and Societal Significance
The “Left Hind” Requirement: For the charm to be truly, its, must, be, and, a, (specifically, the, ).
The “Graveyard” Ritual: Folklore frequently dictates that the rabbit must be killed in a cemetery at midnight, especially by a, (or, ), to be truly.
The “Gift” Belief: In some, it is, the, not, the, that, , of, , but, if, it, it, it, the, and, ,.
The “Trickster” Symbol: In African American, it, , of, , the, of, , and,.
Symbol of 1950s/60s: The charm was ubiquitous, but its popularity declined, , in, the,.
4. Fraternal and Political Ties
Presidential Use: President Franklin D. Roosevelt reportedly carried a lucky rabbit’s foot.
Political Association: President Grover Cleveland is said to have received a rabbit’s foot taken from a rabbit killed on the grave of notorious outlaw Jesse James, signifying that the more dangerous or “wicked” the context, the more, the,.
Athletic Associations: Boxer John L. Sullivan gave a gold-mounted rabbit’s foot to President Theodore Roosevelt.
5. Concepts and Beliefs
The “Inverse” Luck: The, was, as, of, , . The, was, as, of, . The, was, as, of, a, . The, was, as, ,.
Ethical Concerns: Modern, often, , and, , in, the, of,.
The “Rabbit, Rabbit” Tradition: A separate, but, , , , “rabbit, rabbit” (or, , ) , on, the, of, , the, the, ..
The “Hand of Glory” Connection: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,.
The, , of, , , and, , in, , , , that, , , , , , , , , ,.
“That guy’s protected by absolute immunity,” IF ‘that guy’ was/is protected by ABSOLUTE immunity, then that means he could assassinate Vance, Trump, Netanyahu, or various other world leaders, or any of the ‘tech bros’ without any fear of prosecution, right? After all, the word ‘absolute’ — when used without any qualifiers — means 100%/no limits.
Now I know he didn’t intend that meaning, but as VPOTUS it behooves him to speak clearly and knowledgeably about tragedies like this, but that’s not Trump’s MO, so Vance probably doesn’t want to upstage his boss by appearing competent.
it’s only ‘absolute’ immunity when the victim is black! and, if the ICE shooter had been one of the 100’s of ex-IDF rambos, it would not only be ‘absolute’ immunity, but also a huge opportunity for the ADL to request more ICE.
Who runs for POTUS from the Republican Party in 2028 I have no idea. But for now I’ll predict the following: If it’s Vance, he loses. If it’s Rubio, he loses. If it’s Hegseth, he loses. I think the Republicans don’t have the guts to impeach Trump. So, I’m preparing to see Trump either cancel elections in 2028 or tell everyone to screw off and he runs for a third term and steals the election.
After what Vance and Noem have said, it seems obvious to me they are now accessories to murder. They have violated domestic law and seem to believe anything they pronounce automatically becomes law. They must be disabused of that notion immediately. At the least they should be fired. We all know that won’t happen. Impeachment must be the next step or this entire government is illegitimate and should step down. We cannot allow this insanity to continue.
Vance states Ross did nothing wrong and was just doing his job. Later Vance states Ross has immunity. If Ross did nothing wrong then, why bring up immunity? At least one of these is obviously a a lie. Vice Pander.
Just about anyone getting somehow in the way of the “elites” must expect to be shot dead.
Quite simple.
Ruled by a kind of mafia syndicate.
Imo, the “common dream” is everybody one, everybody two, everybody, “Live FREE”… “combining elements of socialist patriotism, Bolivarianism, Latin American integration” & “little” d, democracy “of, by & for the people.” In the “common dream”, Everybody Recognizes & Resists the “Rule by Brute Force” aka Fascism.
…. “When fascism comes to” a City near you, it will be a bloody, f/orange Trumpista bloviating about absolute immunity, qualified immunity, mudder-phkn impunity. Concluding, fascists “LIVE” Large, in the Divided $tates of Corporate America’s three (3) branches of government. The WH of Voodoo & the US Congress’ living legacy of deception, destruction, deaths, imo, is The Hill’s bloody-f/orange tsunami causing immeasurable damage, trumping peace on earth.
AND, “Just dance Vance” “got” everybody’s attention. However, *“Over thirty years ago, Republican historian and political analyst, Kevin Phillips, remarked that the “Republicans go for the jugular while the Democrats go for the capillaries.” This serious disparity in political energy levels is rarely taken into account to explain election turnouts.” Ralph Nader, Imo, “The Man who coulda, shoulda, woulda been “our” forever POTUS, if, elections were fair & square.
Concluding, the “Common Dream,” i.e., ANSWERS! “[Who, besides Israel, needs the US Congress]?
[IS there anyone, in Congress, who is NOT a Corporatist, NOT Israel, first, NOT “corrupt and full of contradictions “, NOT “on board” w/*“the interventionist, expansionist, supremacist “American-Israeli Western project”? i.e., “Kill, first. Think, later.” Basically, F/the Opposition]……crickets……
“[The NOTION] expressed by Trump, Vance and Noem that there is absolute immunity for a cold blooded murder if it’s carried out by one of their agents is the final straw.”…“If we do not turn this around, we are done for as a free society and a decent country.” Norman Ornstein, political scientist.
Fingers crossed, “the cold blooded murder, if it’s carried out by one of their agents, is the final straw,” b/c everybody f/knows, “GENOCIDE” most f/certainly is NOT the “Final Straw,” “imposing death by mass starvation,” dehydration, dehumanization, degradation, death camps, is NOT the final straw; neither is kidnapping, incarceratng, indicting, prosecuting Venezuela’s President & First Lady of Venezuela, for drug-trafficking, fentanyl-laced cocaine, a la cartel. “CLARO QUE NO!”… “Claro que Si” el Muñeco de nieve naranja sangriento, el jefe Trumpista, saqueo y saqueo por la fuerza en tiempos de guerra…the bloody, f/orange Snowman, DJ Trump’s pillage and plunder by force, in time of war.
No doubt, Trump’s “ ACE in the Hole!” is his Aggressive Community Engagement” Take. Destroy. “Run” countries by force. Seize a country’s re$ources, OIL, Lithium, Gold, metals & medals, whatever Trump, Vance, Rubio, Hegseth, Gabbard want. Concluding, “We” too, are occupied;” &, NOT a “DECENT” country.
…. “The land of the free and the home of the brave, is a f/war zone.”
Reliable Sources @:
1) * hxxps://consortiumnews.com/2025/02/07/the-chris-hedges-report-arab-regimes-the-betrayal-of-palestine/
2) * hxxps://nader.org/2024/11/28/greater-energy-levels-by-gop-produce-victories-over-democrats/
Yes indeed, “ICE operations” American law enforcement
following Iranian Republic “moral police” beating
to death jailed young woman, Masha Amini, for not
wearing her headscarf properly.