Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has drawn national attention after confirming a $10,000 donation to a GoFundMe campaign supporting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent involved in a fatal incident in Minneapolis. Ackman said he was the top contributor to the fundraiser created to assist agent Jonathan Ross, whose actions during the operation have become the subject of intense public and political debate.
The incident resulted in the death of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, during an ICE operation earlier this month. Authorities stated that officers believed they were facing an immediate threat at the time. Federal officials later defended the actions of the ICE unit, emphasizing that agents are trained to respond to perceived danger. Public reaction has been deeply divided, with protests taking place in several cities and officials offering differing interpretations of the event.
Following the incident, separate fundraising campaigns were launched for both Ross and Good’s family. The GoFundMe supporting Ross raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. Online attention increased after a $10,000 donation appeared under the name “William Ackman,” which the hedge fund manager later confirmed was his. Ackman said his contribution was based on his belief in “innocent until proven guilty” and was intended to support due process rather than make a political statement.
He added that he attempted to donate to a fundraiser for Good’s family, but it had already closed after exceeding its goal. Ackman described the situation as tragic and expressed hope for constructive dialogue on law enforcement, public safety, and accountability. His donation has sparked strong reactions, with supporters praising his stance on legal fairness and critics questioning the message it sends as the investigation continues.