Minnesota prosecutor probes alleged federal misconduct in Metro Surge operation

By Elyse Apel
The Center Square

A Minneosta county prosecutor has opened investigations into more than a dozen incidents involving federal agents participating in Operation Metro Surge.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty made the announcement that her office would be launching a portal to collect photos and videos from the public to identify potentially illegal behavior by federal agents.

“There are many victims whose stories need to be told. We will investigate and pursue charges where appropriate,” Moriarty said. “If you saw or experienced unlawful conduct by federal agents, please submit any photo or video evidence.”

Moriarty added that the office is already looking into 17 different cases, including one where the commander-at-large of the Border Patrol, Greg Bovino, threw a smoke canister at protesters. Bovino was relieved of his role in the Twin Cities operation shortly after that Jan. 21 incident.

A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security told The Center Square in an email that the office’s Transparency and Accountability Project is unwarranted.

“This does nothing to make Minnesota safer. Enforcing federal immigration laws is a clear federal responsibility under Article I, Article II and the Supremacy Clause,” the spokesperson said. “What these states are trying to do is unlawful, and they know it. Federal officials acting in the course of their duties are immune from liability under state law.”

Moriarty disagreed with this legal theory, stating that the state will seek crimincal charges if warranted.

“We will investigate and pursue charging where appropriate, and we’ll seek collaboration with local law enforcement wherever ⁠and whenever needed,” Moriarty said. “Make no mistake, we are not afraid of any legal fight.”

The DHS spokesperson said this type of rhetoric is fueling ongoing violence towards federal agents.

“Politicians are laying blame at the feet of law enforcement instead of looking in the mirror at how they have fueled the hatred and violent attacks we are seeing against federal law enforcement officers,” the spokesperson said. “These smears are contributing to our officers facing more than 1300% increase in assaults, 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them. We are calling on Democrats, like Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, to stop spreading this garbage.”

As previously reported by The Center Square, though Operation Metro Surge has officially ended, immigration enforcement is ongoing.

During the peak of the operation, the Twin Cities faced nearly-constant public protests. The protests were heightened by the January deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both of whom were shot by federal agents.

Democrats consistently expressed concern with the operation, while Republicans and the Trump administration have applauded Operation Metro Surge as a necessary way to address illegal immigrants living in Minnesota—especially criminals.

White House border czar Tom Homan, who was sent to the Twin Cities to help manage the heated situation, said agents successfully apprehended more than 4,000 illegal immigrants, including murderers, sex offenders, national security threats, and gang members, throughout Minnesota as a part of the operation.