The United States is once again in the middle of an intense debate over immigration enforcement after the tragic death of 37‑year‑old Renee Good, a Minneapolis woman who was fatally shot by an ICE agent during a confrontation with federal immigration officers on January 7.
The incident has ignited fierce criticism, emotional responses from the public, and renewed scrutiny of the nation’s immigration policies.
Ellen DeGeneres Shares Emotional Instagram Message
On January 17, Ellen DeGeneres took to Instagram to publicly react to the news of Good’s death, expressing a mix of sorrow, outrage, and concern that has resonated far beyond her usual fanbase.
In her post, DeGeneres wrote: “I’m so sad, and so angry, and so worried,”
She also shared a full statement from Becca Good, the wife of the deceased, bringing a personal and deeply emotional perspective to her followers and the broader discussion.
Dozens of fans responded to DeGeneres’ post, with many praising her for drawing attention to the tragic circumstances and linking it to broader frustrations with immigration enforcement.
Supportive comments included: “People are so brainwashed in the US, they can’t see anything wrong with this. The rest of the world is shocked that you, as a group of people, voted for this and have no issue with it,”
Another commenter stressed the need for humanity in political discourse: “Her tragic death is a reminder that sometimes we should put politics aside and judge the situation as HUMANS! right or left, killing her was WRONG.”
Critics Blast DeGeneres: “Stay in Your Lane”
Despite the support, DeGeneres faced harsh criticism from others who felt her post was misplaced or selective.
Some detractors argued she should not be weighing in on law enforcement issues or pointed to other incidents they felt were being ignored.
One critical commenter wrote: “Stay in your lane Ellen…no one deserves to die but maybe if she wasn’t out antagonizing law enforcement that had NOTHING to do with her she would be here. Sad to think the last thing she heard was Drive Baby Drive as her partner filmed OUTSIDE of car.”
Others used the opportunity to bring up unrelated tragedies and express disapproval of DeGeneres’ presence in the UK: “Ellen I hope u continue stay in the UK. RIP Charlie Kirk!!!!!”
And in a broader dismissal of her stance: “You are on the wrong side, again. Hope you are enjoying the UK.”
Ellen’s Life in the UK and Future Plans
Part of the broader conversation around DeGeneres’ comments stems from her relocation. In late 2024, she and her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, moved to the United Kingdom during a significant election period in the U.S.
Reflecting on that time, DeGeneres told broadcaster Richard Bacon, via Hello! magazine: “We got here the day before the election. We woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, ‘He got in.’ And we’re like, ‘We’re staying here.'”
Since moving, there has been ongoing chatter about the couple’s possible return to the United States in 2026, but DeGeneres has neither confirmed nor denied those rumors.