ICE agents in Minneapolis could face criminal charges as probe begins

County attorney opens investigation into 17 incidents

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced March 2, 2026, that her office is investigating 17 incidents of alleged unlawful conduct by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.

The probe covers actions by both Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection agents during Operation Metro Surge.

Moriarty said her office will pursue charges where appropriate, working with local law enforcement. Community members reported all 17 incidents directly to prosecutors.

Video catches an agent deploying a smoke canister

Former Border Patrol Commander at Large Gregory Bovino appears in video footage deploying a gas canister near Mueller Park on Jan. 21.

The canister, identified as “pocket tactical green smoke” made by Defense Technology, released plumes of green and gray smoke over the crowd.

Activist Ben Luhmann captured the footage, which shows Bovino issuing warnings before tossing the canister and pushing people back. People nearby reported coughing and vomiting from the smoke.

At least a couple of protesters were tackled and arrested.

Agents also drew scrutiny at a high school

The second named incident happened at Roosevelt High School on Jan. 7, the same day agents fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Good.

Witnesses and school officials said agents deployed chemical irritants on school property during student dismissal. A staff member was handcuffed after asking agents to leave.

Minneapolis Public Schools canceled classes district-wide for the rest of that week over safety concerns.

The Department of Homeland Security said agents used “targeted crowd control” and denied targeting students or staff.

The Office opens a public evidence portal

Moriarty’s office launched the Transparency and Accountability Project, an online portal where people can submit photos, videos, and descriptions of alleged misconduct.

County prosecutors and a civilian investigator staff the team.

The portal lets victims and witnesses who fear retaliation come forward without being publicly identified.

A separate evidence portal tied to the fatal shootings of Good and Alex Pretti has since closed after serving its purpose.

Most of the 17 incidents stay unnamed for now

Moriarty named only two of the 17 incidents under investigation: the Mueller Park encounter and the Roosevelt High School confrontation.

The other 15 remain unnamed because many potential victims and witnesses are vulnerable and fear retaliation by the federal government.

Moriarty said there are many victims whose stories still need to be told, and the portal lets people report without being publicly identified.

Her office continues to review all reports submitted through the portal.

Prosecuting federal agents won’t be easy

Moriarty acknowledged that bringing charges against federal agents creates significant legal challenges. Federal agents may claim Supremacy Clause immunity, which could shield them from state prosecution.

Moriarty said no absolute immunity exists for federal agents and that her office is prepared to litigate the issue.

The federal government has also refused to share information about its officers’ actions in Minnesota with local prosecutors, adding another obstacle to the investigation.

DHS defended what its agents did

DHS has maintained that Operation Metro Surge targeted dangerous criminals, including people convicted of homicide, assault, and sex offenses.

Federal officials said agents faced hostile crowds and were assaulted by protesters.

When Bovino was reassigned, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said he had not been relieved of duties and called him a key part of the president’s team.

White House adviser Stephen Miller previously claimed federal agents have “federal immunity” when dealing with protesters.

What Operation Metro Surge actually was

Operation Metro Surge began in late November 2025, bringing roughly 3,000 federal agents from ICE, CBP, and other agencies to the Minneapolis area.

DHS called it the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out.

Federal officials said the operation resulted in more than 4,000 arrests, though officials did not break down how many involved people with criminal charges.

The operation caused an estimated $200 million in economic impact to Minneapolis in January alone.

Two people died during the operation

Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on Jan. 7 while sitting in her car.

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and VA employee, was fatally shot by two CBP agents on Jan. 24 while filming agents and directing traffic.

Both killings sparked national protests and calls for accountability.

The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division opened an investigation into Pretti’s death, but not Good’s.

Bovino left Minneapolis after both shootings

Bovino was removed from his Commander at Large role on Jan. 26, two days after Pretti’s death.

He returned to his previous position as Border Patrol sector chief in El Centro, Calif. White House border czar Tom Homan then traveled to Minneapolis to take over and report directly to President Trump.

Homan announced in mid-February that Operation Metro Surge would be winding down, though some federal immigration activity has continued in the area.

The federal government is blocking key evidence

The federal government has refused to turn over evidence related to the fatal shootings or other incidents to local prosecutors.

The FBI took control of evidence in the Good shooting, cutting out the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Moriarty said she is prepared to sue the DOJ if it continues to ignore her requests for evidence.

A federal judge found that ICE violated at least 96 court orders in Minnesota since Jan. 1, 2026.

Investigation moves forward, legal fights ahead

The TAP portal stays open for the public to submit evidence of potential misconduct by federal agents. Moriarty’s team is actively reviewing all 17 incidents and will decide whether to file state criminal charges.

Any prosecution would likely trigger legal battles over whether state courts have authority over federal agents.

The investigation stands as one of the first attempts by a local jurisdiction to hold federal immigration agents criminally accountable during the current administration’s deportation operations.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• Contract Shows ICE Vehicles in Twin Cities Lack Required Safety Equipment
• Kristi Noem faces impeachment over ICE shootings, blocked oversight
• Minnesota Lost $250 Million to Fake Meal Sites While State Officials Looked Away