The family of Renee Nicole Good, the 29-year-old American woman who died in ICE custody in October 2025 from untreated appendicitis that turned septic, has quietly assembled one of the most formidable legal teams in the country — the same powerhouse civil rights attorneys who handled the George Floyd wrongful death litigation. The move marks a dramatic escalation in what was already a high-profile case, and now a leaked internal ICE agent’s sworn testimony contains a gaping, glaring inconsistency that threatens to completely upend the official story.
According to sources close to the legal team, the attorneys — including prominent civil rights litigator Connie Rice and ACLU immigration specialist Lee Gelernt — filed a formal wrongful death claim against the Department of Homeland Security in early January 2026. The suit alleges deliberate indifference, medical negligence, violation of constitutional rights, and a pattern of systemic failure in ICE detention facilities that allowed Renee’s condition to deteriorate for over 48 hours until she went into septic shock.
The bombshell emerged when an internal ICE agent’s testimony — leaked to ProPublica and verified by multiple outlets — directly contradicted the official timeline and medical logs. The agent claimed under oath that Renee “was seen by medical staff multiple times” and “refused transfer to hospital on several occasions.” However, the actual detention center logs, autopsy report, and witness statements show she was only given ibuprofen, repeatedly complained of severe pain, fever, and vomiting, and begged for medical help — yet was never transferred for emergency care until she was already in critical condition.
This single contradiction has ignited intense scrutiny. Legal experts say it raises serious questions: Was treatment deliberately delayed? Were medical records altered or selectively documented? Or was this a catastrophic, unforgivable failure of basic protocol that cost a young woman her life? The family’s attorneys are now demanding full bodycam footage, all medical logs, internal communications, and depositions from every staff member on duty during Renee’s 48-hour ordeal.
Renee was detained during a routine immigration check-in in San Diego while her asylum claim from Guatemala was still pending. She had lived in the U.S. for over a decade on valid visa extensions. Within days of detention, she began experiencing severe abdominal pain. Despite repeated complaints, she was not hospitalized until she collapsed into septic shock. The autopsy confirmed death from perforated appendicitis with delayed treatment.
ICE’s official report cited “natural causes” and “complications from a pre-existing condition,” but the family’s independent autopsy directly contradicts that narrative. Maria Good, Renee’s mother, has spoken publicly: “My daughter begged for help. She said she was dying. They did nothing. Now they want to say she refused care? That’s a lie.”
The case has reignited national outrage over deaths in immigration detention. Since 2017, more than 200 people have died in ICE custody, with advocates pointing to systemic medical neglect and lack of oversight. Renee’s story has become a rallying cry: #JusticeForRenee trending with over 1 million posts, protests planned in San Diego and Washington, D.C.
As the legal battle intensifies, the single inconsistency in testimony has shifted the narrative from tragic accident to potential scandal. For Renee’s 7-year-old daughter, who turned 7 just days after her mother’s death, the fight is no longer just about answers — it’s about accountability, transparency, and ensuring no other family endures the same nightmare.
The truth is still emerging — but the pain is already undeniable, and the questions are growing louder every day.
