Minnesota county launches online portal to probe immigration enforcement abuse allegations
Minnesota County Launches Online Portal to Probe Immigration Enforcement Abuse
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty unveiled a fresh initiative Monday aimed at gathering public reports of potential misconduct by federal immigration agents during Operation Metro Surge. The effort, led by county prosecutors and a civilian investigator, focuses on analyzing evidence like photographs, videos, and accounts to uncover “unlawful behavior” in the state’s immigration enforcement activities.
The online portal, part of the Transparency and Accountability Project, invites residents to document incidents they believe involved improper actions by agents. Moriarty emphasized that the team is currently examining 17 cases, including the January 21 confrontation involving Greg Bovino, a former U.S. Border Patrol commander, near Mueller Park. “We will investigate and pursue charging where appropriate,” she stated, “and seek collaboration with local law enforcement as needed.”
“Third warning. Gas, gas, gas,” Bovino shouted before releasing a canister of chemical irritant over a crowd of demonstrators in Minneapolis on January 21. The footage captures his use of tear gas during the protest, part of a larger operation targeting immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities.
Another incident on the same day shows federal agents using chemical irritants against a man already pinned to the ground, as captured by a Minnesota Star Tribune photographer. These events followed the deaths of two U.S. citizens—Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti—by immigration officers in separate encounters. Moriarty noted that prior online portals for the Good and Pretti cases have been closed, with evidence transferred to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for further review.
Operation Metro Surge, which Bovino led, involved over 3,000 federal agents deployed from November 2022, resulting in the arrest of 4,000 individuals. The operation sparked widespread demonstrations against ICE and CBP, with Bovino removed from his role as commander in late January. He was later reinstated as sector chief in El Centro, California.
President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, had previously announced the conclusion of the operation, while Homeland Security officials indicated plans to reduce similar large-scale enforcement efforts. NBC News has contacted the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies for clarification but received no immediate response.
Nicole Acevedo, an NBC News reporter, contributed to the reporting of this development.