Minnesota Prosecutor Launches Investigation into Federal Immigration Officers
A Minnesota prosecutor has announced a significant investigation that could result in criminal charges against federal immigration officers, including a prominent Border Patrol official, for alleged misconduct during a recent enforcement operation in the Minneapolis area.
Details of the Investigation
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty revealed on Monday that her office is examining 17 cases linked to Operation Metro Surge, an immigration crackdown that she claims caused immeasurable harm to the community. Among the incidents under scrutiny is one where Border Patrol official Greg Bovino allegedly threw a smoke canister at protesters on January 21. Another case involves federal officers making an arrest outside a high school on January 7, where chemical irritants were deployed while students and staff were present.
Make no mistake, we are not afraid of the legal fight, and we are committed to doing this correctly, Moriarty stated during a news conference. She emphasized that her office is collecting evidence about all sorts of possible crimes, including assault and property damage, as noted by Rachel Moran, a criminal law professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis.
Background on Greg Bovino and Federal Tactics
Greg Bovino, a key figure in the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts, is known for employing aggressive tactics in cities like Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago, and Los Angeles. In Chicago, federal officers frequently used chemical irritants for crowd control in residential areas, leading to a court order for Bovino to wear a body camera and appear daily in court—an order that was overturned before his first mandated appearance. In Minneapolis-St. Paul, officers took a forceful approach, detaining individuals who were blowing whistles and recording arrests.
Bovino was eventually removed from his leading role in the Minnesota operation after federal officers fatally shot 37-year-old mother Renee Good and 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti on separate days in January. These incidents sparked nationwide demonstrations and criticism of the Department of Homeland Security's use-of-force policies.
Challenges and Legal Proceedings
Moriarty's investigation will focus solely on incidents within Hennepin County, which includes Minneapolis and its suburbs, despite federal enforcement occurring throughout the Twin Cities. Her office is also investigating the deaths of Good and Pretti, and she expressed confidence in pursuing charges. Moriarty warned that if the federal government does not respond by Tuesday, her office is prepared to sue to obtain necessary evidence.
The question is, should we charge in federal court? Do we expect the federal government to obstruct us? I would say they're already doing that, Moriarty remarked. The Department of Justice has opened a civil rights inquiry into Pretti's death but saw no reason for one in Good's case, with the FBI blocking state investigators from accessing evidence related to her death.
Transparency and Accountability Efforts
To aid the investigation, Moriarty's office has established an online portal for the public to upload photos, videos, and eyewitness accounts from Operation Metro Surge. Mark Osler, a former director of the criminal division under Moriarty and current law professor at the University of St. Thomas, highlighted the importance of truth-telling in such cases. One of the most important roles that prosecution has is to bring to the surface what actually happened at a given time, he said, expressing confidence that the public will gain more clarity as the investigation progresses.
The Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol, Greg Bovino, the Department of Justice, and the FBI did not immediately return requests for comment on the allegations.
