A Minnesota prosecutor has launched an inquiry that could result in charges against federal immigration officers, including Greg Bovino, for alleged misconduct during a nationwide enforcement push.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced at a press conference that 17 cases are under review, one of which involves Bovino, a border patrol official who reportedly launched a smoke canister at protesters on January 21.
The investigation also covers the fatal shootings of 37-year-old U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti on January 7 and January 24, respectively. Moriarty said she is confident that charges may be pursued in these cases, which sparked widespread protests and raised questions about the use-of-force guidelines governing federal immigration enforcement.
Another incident being examined occurred on January 7, when federal officers arrested someone outside a high school and released chemical irritants while students and staff were nearby.
“Make no mistake—we will not shy away from the legal fight, and we are determined to do this properly,” Moriarty stated. She described the operation, known as Metro Surge, as having caused substantial harm to the community.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration enforcement, responded that such enforcement is a federal responsibility and that states lack authority to prosecute federal officers. In a statement issued Monday night, the agency argued that officials acting within the scope of their duties enjoy immunity from state liability and urged local officials to consider how their actions may have endangered federal law enforcement personnel.
A request for comment from Bovino was not immediately answered.
Bovino has emerged as a prominent figure in the previous administration’s immigration enforcement efforts, noted for adopting aggressive tactics in operations in Minneapolis–St. Paul, Chicago, and Los Angeles. In Chicago, federal officers frequently used chemical irritants in residential neighborhoods, leading a judge to order Bovino to wear a body camera and appear in court daily to address questions about the crackdown. That order was overturned prior to his first mandated appearance.
During operations in Minneapolis–St. Paul, officers sometimes used force to corral protesters, and many people were detained while whistles were blown and arrests recorded.
Bovino was removed from a leading role in Minnesota’s enforcement campaign after the killings of Good and Pretti.
Moriarty’s office has set up an online portal for the public to upload photos, videos, and eyewitness accounts from any point during Operation Metro Surge.
While the Trump administration defended federal officers, Moriarty’s office emphasized that it is “collecting evidence about all sorts of possible crimes,” as explained by Rachel Moran, a professor of criminal law and policing at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis.
If cases involve unjustified use of chemical agents, striking people, or damaging property, Moran suggested prosecutors might examine charges such as assault or property offenses. She remarked that, in her view, agents may have acted unlawfully and outside their authorized duties, and she personally witnessed conduct she deemed illegal.
Although federal officers conducted immigration enforcement across the Twin Cities, Moriarty clarified that the investigation will focus only on incidents within Hennepin County, which encompasses Minneapolis and many surrounding suburbs.
Moriarty also indicated that her office is prepared to sue the federal government to obtain the evidence requested in the Good and Pretti investigations if there is no timely response.
“Should we seek federal charges?” Moriarty asked. “Do we expect the federal government to obstruct us? I would say they’re already doing that.”
The Department of Justice opened a civil rights inquiry into Pretti’s death but stated there was no basis for a civil rights probe into Good’s death; meanwhile, the FBI blocked state investigators from accessing evidence in Good’s case. DoJ and FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Despite the hurdles, Moriarty stressed her commitment to transparency and accountability.
Mark Osler, who previously ran Moriarty’s criminal division, said that regardless of whether charges are filed, the public can expect greater clarity. “One of prosecution’s most important roles is truth-telling—bringing to light what actually happened at a given time,” said Osler, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas. “We’ll all know more than what we saw in those initial videos by the time she’s finished.”
