Minnesota launches investigation that could bring charges against federal immigration officers
A Minnesota prosecutor announced Monday an investigation that could lead to charges against federal officers, including a Border Patrol official. Greg Bovinodue to abuse during crackdown on immigration enforcement.
Hennepin County Prosecutor Mary Moriarty said at a news conference that her office is currently reviewing 17 cases. I threw a smoke canister. Attack on protesters on January 21. Another attack on January 7 involved federal marshals making an arrest outside a high school and using chemical irritants while students and staff were in the area.
“Make no mistake, we are not afraid of legal battle and we are determined to do this right,” Moriarty said. “Operation Metro Surge has caused immeasurable damage to our community.”
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration enforcement, said Monday night that such enforcement is a federal responsibility and states cannot prosecute federal officers.
“What these States are trying to do is illegal and they know it,” the statement said. “Federal officials acting in the execution of their duties are exempt from liability under state law.”
Local officials should instead consider how their actions endanger federal law enforcement, the statement added.
A message requesting a response to Bovino was not immediately responded to.
Bovino, who emerged as a key figure in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations, is known for bringing aggressive tactics to the crackdown. Minneapolis-St. paul, Chicago And Los Angeles. Federal officers were frequently stationed in Chicago chemical irritants as crowd control measures in residential neighborhoods and a judge ordered Bovino to wear a body camera and go to court every day will answer questions about the operation. This order was overthrown before his first obligatory appearance.
Civil servants from time to time strong approach To rally protesters in Minneapolis-St. Paul and detained Many people whistle and record arrests.
Bovino finally happened removed For her leading role in Minnesota efforts after federal officers fatally shot a 37-year-old mother Renee Good and 37 year old nurse Alex is beautiful It sparked nationwide demonstrations and criticism of DHS’s use of force policies on different days in January.
Moriarty’s office set up an online portal where photos, videos and eyewitness accounts could be uploaded from any point during Operation Metro Surge.
There is a Trump administration defended St. in Minneapolis Rachel Moran, a professor of criminal law and policing at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, said federal officials, however, made clear that Moriarty’s office was “collecting evidence of any potential crime.”
Moran cited examples of cases where prosecutors may investigate assault or property damage when police officers unjustly used chemical weapons, threw people to the ground or broke car windows.
“These would be situations that the state would have to determine: Is there evidence that the agents acted unlawfully and outside the scope of their authorized duties?” said Moran. “I think agents are doing illegal things here. I watched it.”
Although federal officers conduct immigration enforcement throughout the Twin Cities, Moriarty’s investigation will focus only on incidents in Hennepin County, which includes Minneapolis and many of its suburbs.
His office is also investigating the deaths of Good and Pretti and is “confident” they can pursue charges. He said Monday that if he doesn’t hear from him by Tuesday, he’s prepared to sue the federal government to get the evidence his office wants for investigations.
“The question is: Should we file a lawsuit in federal court? Do we expect the federal government to block us? I would say they’ve already done that,” Moriarty said.
Ministry of Justice launched an investigation civil rights investigation About Pretti’s death but he said this I didn’t see any reason for civil rights investigation Good’s death. Federal Bureau of Investigation banned prevented state investigators from accessing evidence in his case.
The Justice Department and FBI did not immediately return requests for comment.
While addressing the challenges his office will face in bringing charges against federal agents, Moriarty said they are committed to transparency and accountability.
Mark Osler, who served as criminal division director for a year under Moriarty in 2023 and 2024, said he thought the public could expect more clarity regardless of whether there are charges.
Currently in St. “One of the most important roles that the prosecution has … is to tell the truth, to bring to the surface what really happened at a particular time,” said Osler, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas. “When he’s done, we’ll all know more than what we saw in those first videos. I’m sure of that.”
___
Raza reported from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Fingerhut reported from Des Moines, Iowa.
