PLANO — Hundreds of protesters gathered yesterday afternoon at the intersection of Preston Road and Parker Road for a volunteer-organized rally titled “ICE Out for Good Plano TX.” The demonstration ran from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and featured signs, flags, and chants criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, with organizers and attendees calling for accountability following the death of Renee Nicole Good.
Organizers described the rally as a demand for justice for Good, criticizing what they called federal “overreach” and “unchecked” authority in immigration enforcement. In their public announcement, organizers called for “immediate accountability” and an end to what they described as systemic violence affecting communities.
The event announcement also emphasized nonviolent participation, stating that attendees were expected to de-escalate potential confrontations with those who disagreed with the protest’s message.
Local political reaction
The rally drew public comments from Democratic leaders and candidates active in Collin County politics, along with remarks from elected officials who addressed the crowd.
Jeremy Sutka, chair of the Collin County Democratic Party, praised turnout and criticized federal immigration enforcement tactics in a statement following the event.
“The people of Collin County showed up and showed out at the ICE Out for Good rally in Plano,” Sutka wrote. “Renee Nicole Good did not deserve to die, and patriotic Americans know it.”
Sutka added, “No hunt for undocumented immigrants should ever result in the death of American citizens,” and argued against “masked, armed, and unaccountable federal agents in our streets,” concluding, “The ends do not justify the means.”
Evan Hunt, a Democratic candidate running for Congress in Texas’ 3rd District, also commented on the rally and the broader enforcement debate, describing the issue as one of accountability and the limits of federal power. He echoed concerns raised by organizers and several protesters about how enforcement actions are being carried out.
During the rally, Rep. Gene Wu—chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus—addressed the crowd and framed the demonstration as a defense of constitutional rights and democratic values. Acknowledging the cold weather, Wu told attendees, “It is freezing out here, but I don’t care… it doesn’t matter because you guys are here.”
Wu then focused on why he believed people gathered, telling the crowd, “You are here because America no longer looks like the America you remember… no longer looks like what you want it to be, or a future that you want your children to live in.” Wu later called the rally a civic stand, adding, “What you are doing right here is the most patriotic thing you can do.”
Sundeep Srivastava, a Democratic candidate running to represent the area where the rally took place, also thanked attendees for turning out and said the size of the crowd showed local concern about current events. He urged participants to vote and encouraged supporters to “turn Texas blue.”
TX3DNews contacted the Collin County Republican Party and U.S. Rep. Keith Self (TX-03) for comment on the rally and the broader enforcement debate. As of publication, no responses had been received.
Voices from the crowd
Attendees interviewed by TX3DNews said their concerns focused on enforcement tactics and oversight—not a call for open borders. Several described frustration with what they viewed as aggressive or unclear operations, including confrontations in public spaces and the perception that some actions are carried out with limited transparency.
John Stafford, a Democrat who attended the rally, said his political support is rooted in advocating for people he believes have fewer advantages.
“The reason why I am a Democrat is so that I can stand up for those people who don’t have the same privilege in life that I have,” Stafford said.
Other protesters echoed similar themes, saying they support immigration laws being enforced but want enforcement carried out in a way they believe reduces risk to the public and increases oversight.
A rally shaped by a national incident
While the rally took place in Plano, organizers tied its message to the death of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis during an encounter involving an ICE officer—an incident that has drawn national attention and sparked dispute over what happened in the moments before shots were fired.
In Plano, protesters used the rally to call for stronger oversight in federal immigration enforcement, with signs and speeches focusing on transparency, identification of agents, and how operations are conducted in public.
Supporters of ICE enforcement, including many Republican leaders, argue that immigration enforcement remains necessary for public safety and border security and that officers must be able to protect themselves during volatile encounters—an argument critics strongly dispute.
Peaceful demonstration with a visible local turnout
The protest remained peaceful throughout the afternoon, with participants occupying sidewalks and corners near one of Plano’s busiest intersections. Most passing drivers responded with supportive honks that drew cheers from the crowd, while a small number appeared to jeer or yell at protesters as they drove by.
The rally placed Plano among cities seeing new protests over immigration enforcement, with public debate spilling into everyday community spaces.