THE fatal shooting of a Minnesota mother by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has drawn attention in the Philippines after it emerged that the officer is married to a Filipino immigrant with family ties back home. Jonathan Ross, 43, shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good during a federal operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. Ross’ father, Ed Ross, told the British tabloid Daily Mail that his son’s wife, now a US citizen, is Filipino and that her parents currently live in the Philippines. According to Ed Ross, his daughter-in-law is 38 and has maintained close connections with her family in the country. Social media posts on her Instagram page show that Jonathan Ross and his wife were married in August 2012. The disclosure has resonated with Filipino audiences, where overseas migration and US immigration enforcement are closely watched, especially when Filipinos or their families are linked to high-profile incidents involving American authorities. Neighbors describe family life A neighbor interviewed by a local US newspaper described Ross’ wife as “polite, very nice, very outgoing,” adding that the couple has two children. “He’s very reserved,” the neighbor said. Ross is an Iraq War veteran who has spent nearly two decades in US border enforcement, serving with both the US Border Patrol and ICE, according to the Associated Press. Records show he has worked as a deportation officer since 2015. He was seriously injured last summer after being dragged by a fleeing suspect’s vehicle, an incident in which Ross reportedly used a stun gun. Under investigation The shooting occurred as federal agents attempted to arrest Good, a Minneapolis resident and mother, during an ICE operation. Authorities said Ross fired his weapon as Good tried to drive away from the scene. Senior US Department of Homeland Security officials, including Secretary Kristi Noem, have defended Ross, describing him as an experienced law enforcement officer who followed his training. They said Ross believed Good was attempting to run him or other agents over with her vehicle. However, video footage circulating online has raised questions about whether the use of deadly force was justified. The FBI is investigating the shooting, and Minnesota authorities have also signaled their intent to review the case. Protesters in Minneapolis and other US cities have called for criminal charges against Ross. Neighbors also told local media that Ross is a strong supporter of US President Donald Trump and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. One neighbor said Ross had previously displayed pro-Trump banners and a “Don’t Tread On Me” flag outside his home, symbols commonly associated with conservative and MAGA-aligned groups. Why the case resonates For Filipinos, the case highlights the deep and often complicated ties between the Philippines and the United States, home to millions of Filipino immigrants and Filipino Americans. ICE operations and US immigration policies have long been a source of concern for Filipino communities abroad, particularly families with mixed immigration status. While Ross’ wife is not implicated in the shooting, her Filipino background has sparked discussion in the Philippines about how global migration can indirectly connect Filipinos to major political and social controversies in the United States.