Minnesota launches probe that could bring charges against federal immigration officers

By — Sarah Raza, Associated Press Sarah Raza, Associated Press By — Hannah Fingerhut, Associated Press Hannah Fingerhut, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Minnesota launches probe that could bring charges against federal immigration officers Nation Mar 3, 2026 8:24 PM EST A Minnesota prosecutor announced an investigation Monday that may lead to charges against federal officers, including Border Patrol official Greg Bovino, for misconduct during an immigration enforcement crackdown. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a news conference that her office is already looking into 17 cases, including one where Bovino threw a smoke canister at protesters on Jan. 21. Another on Jan. 7 involved federal officers making an arrest outside a high school and deploying chemical irritants while students and staff were in the area. READ MORE: A timeline of Trump's immigration crackdown in Minnesota "Make no mistake, we are not afraid of the legal fight, and we are committed to doing this correctly," Moriarty said. "Operation Metro Surge caused immeasurable harm to our community." The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration enforcement, responded in a statement Monday night that such enforcement is a federal responsibility and states cannot prosecute federal officers. "What these States are trying to do is unlawful, and they know it," the statement said. "Federal officials acting in the course of their duties are immune from liability under state law." The statement added that local officials should instead consider how their actions have endangered federal law enforcement officers. A message to Bovino seeking his response was not immediately returned. Bovino, who emerged as a key figure in the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations, is known for bringing aggressive tactics to crackdowns in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago and Los Angeles...