Residents were bundled up against the cold as they held signs facing Bellefonte Avenue, many of which demanded the abolishment of ICE, keeping the federal officers off the streets and noting the nation was founded on immigrants.

The protest was one of at least 1,000 that have taken place nationwide in recent days, with similar demonstrations occurring in nearby Williamsport and State College. It was organized by the Clinton County Democratic Committee, which has been vocal against many actions of the Trump Administration since the president took office in 2025.

“The CCDC planned a protest against ICE after increased violence around the county, but more focused on Minnesota,” a statement from the committee said.

The recent wave of demonstrations was ignited by the Jan. 7 shooting of 37-year-old American citizen Renee Good, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Federal officials, including Department of Homeland Security leadership, have characterized Good’s actions as an attempted attack and described her conduct as “domestic terrorism,” asserting she tried to use her vehicle against law enforcement.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Dozens of Clinton County residents stood in cold temperatures to protest against the increased presence of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel in cities such as Minneapolis, which saw an uptick in activity following the shooting death of resident Renee Good earlier this month.

Local and state officials, eyewitnesses and independent video analysis have strongly disputed that characterization, arguing the available evidence does not support the federal government’s narrative and calling for a transparent investigation into the shooting.

“The Trump Administration touted that they were going to get rid of violent drug offenders and gang members. How many of them have been deported? Instead, they’re going to asylum hearings and schools during pick up,” the CCDC said in a statement.

According to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a data gathering, data research, and data distribution organization that was founded in 1989 at Syracuse University, as of Nov. 30, 2025, of the 65,735 individuals detained in ICE detention centers, about 73.6 percent have no criminal convictions.

TRAC’s data further notes that in 2025, about 554,031 new immigration court cases were recorded, with about 1.60 percent of those based on alleged criminal activity. The data notes 955,266 court cases were closed as of September 2025.

The CCDC’s statements further noted the legal process that many individuals follow to become citizens, which can take years to complete.

LAURA TARANTELLA/THE EXPRESS A large group of Centre County residents are pictured in State College during a recent protest against the federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement agency (ICE).

“There is a process for entering this country legally and a majority of the people being ripped from their families are going through that process. They’re not gang members. They’re working in restaurants, hotels, construction and farms,” the CCDC said.

Since shortly after Donald Trump’s January 2025 inauguration, immigration enforcement under ICE has intensified, with expanded deportation efforts and broader use of fast-track removal procedures that limit access to immigration courts.

The crackdown has affected communities nationwide and drawn criticism from advocates and legal observers over due process concerns. In response, protests have erupted intermittently across the country, fueled in part by documented cases in which U.S. citizens and other legally present individuals were detained or deported.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SUN GAZETTE Protesters lined Market Street in Williamsport over the weekend of Jan. 10 to rally against United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the wake of Renee Good’s death in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.