Minnesota Police Chiefs Accuse ICE of Targeting Off-Duty Officers in Civil Rights Row
Senior law enforcement officials in Minnesota's Twin Cities region have made explosive allegations that federal immigration agents have been targeting off-duty police officers during a major deportation operation, while voicing broader concerns about widespread civil rights violations in the community.
Press Conference Reveals Disturbing Pattern
Three prominent police leaders from the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area held a Tuesday press conference to sound the alarm about what they described as systematic "discrimination," "profiling," and "civil rights violations" occurring as federal immigration officials conduct operations across the region. The Department of Homeland Security initiated "Operation Metro Surge" in the area last month, with agents reportedly making approximately 10,000 arrests since the operation began, according to agency statements released on Monday.
Officers of Colour Report Harassment
Mark Bruley, the Police Chief of Brooklyn Park, a Minneapolis suburb, revealed that his department has been "receiving endless complaints about civil rights violations in our streets from U.S. citizens." More disturbingly, he disclosed that off-duty police officers have also become targets of this alleged harassment. "We started hearing from our police officers the same complaints as they fell victim to this while off duty. Every one of these individuals is a person of color who has had this happen to them," Bruley told assembled reporters.
Specific Incident Involving Officer
Chief Bruley provided detailed accounts of specific encounters, including one involving an off-duty officer who was recently stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who "demanded her paperwork," despite her status as a U.S. citizen who "clearly would not have any paperwork." The agents reportedly had their firearms drawn during this confrontation. "When she became concerned about the rhetoric and the way she was being treated, she pulled out her phone. In an attempt to record the incident, the phone was knocked out of her hands, preventing her from recording it," Bruley recounted. The agents "immediately left" without further comment once she identified herself as a Brooklyn Park police officer.
Community-Wide Racial Profiling Concerns
Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt echoed these concerns, stating that people throughout the area are being "stopped, questioned and harassed solely because of the color of their skin." She emphasized the troubling extension of this alleged discrimination, noting, "This is not OK now, and it has never been OK, and now that same discrimination is also spilling into the law enforcement community."
Operation Sparks Protests and Tragedy
The federal operation has generated significant local opposition, sparking protests and backlash from municipal officials across the Twin Cities region. Community tensions escalated further following the January 7th shooting death of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. This incident has intensified scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics in the area.
Law Enforcement Leaders Stress Need for Proper Procedures
Chief Bruley was careful to clarify that these concerns appear to involve "a small group of agents within the surge in the metro area that are performing or acting this way," rather than representing widespread behaviour across all federal agents. He also distanced himself from more radical positions, stating, "What you won't hear from any of us today is rhetoric of 'abolish ICE' or that there shouldn't be immigration enforcement. The truth is, immigration enforcement is necessary for our national security and for local security, but how it's done is extremely important."
Federal Response and Denials
When contacted for comment, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told CBS Minnesota that the agency "is able to find no record of ICE or Border Patrol stopping and questioning a police officer." The spokesperson added, "Without a name, we cannot verify these claims. We will continue to look into these claims." Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino defended his agency's operations during a separate Tuesday press conference, describing them as "lawful" and "focused on individuals who pose a serious threat to this community." When questioned about the police officials' criticisms, Bovino asserted that the agency's tactics "are borne of necessity," adding, "What we do is legal, ethical, and moral. Everything we do everyday is legal, ethical, moral, well-grounded in law."
