Minnesota Prosecutor Launches Project to Investigate Alleged Misconduct by Federal Agents

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said the initiative will collect public evidence and review 17 incidents.

Federal agents block off the scene of a shooting as crowds gather in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, 2026. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

A Minnesota prosecutor said on March 2 that her office has launched a new initiative to gather evidence and investigate potential unlawful conduct by federal agents following an immigration enforcement surge in the state.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said the office has established the Transparency and Accountability Project, known as TAP, to review incidents linked to Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement operation that began in Minnesota in late 2025.

Speaking at a press conference on March 2, Moriarty said that TAP “will identify, investigate, and if appropriate, pursue accountability for potential unlawful behavior by federal agents in Hennepin County.”

Community members can share photos, videos, and descriptions of incidents involving unlawful conduct by federal agents via a new portal created to support TAP, Moriarty’s office said.

The initiative follows a previous submission system used to collect evidence related to the January shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which Moriarty said had already served its purpose.

Moriarty said investigators are currently reviewing 17 incidents reported by community members, though details of many of the cases cannot yet be made public.

“As you can imagine, many of the victims and witnesses have legitimate concerns about being publicly identified for fear of retaliation by the federal government,” she said on March 2.

Operation Metro Surge

Operation Metro Surge began in early December 2025 as part of a broader federal immigration enforcement push in Minnesota. It was initially led by Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino.

More than 4,000 criminal illegal aliens have been arrested in Minnesota since the launch of Operation Metro Surge, according to a White House statement on Feb. 4.

After the shootings of Good and Pretti, President Donald Trump’s border czar Tom Homan assumed leadership of the effort in late January.

Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino (C) in Minneapolis, Minn., on Jan. 21, 2026. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Moriarty said the office is seeking additional public information on several cases that have already been widely reported.

Those include an incident on Jan. 21, in which Bovino and other agents allegedly used force against observers and members of the press near Mueller Park, and another case involving the use of force against staff and students at Roosevelt High School on Jan. 7, she said.

Moriarty acknowledged that prosecuting federal agents presents significant legal and investigative challenges. She added that agents could attempt to claim supremacy clause immunity, a legal doctrine sometimes invoked by federal officials accused of violating state law.

“But I’ve said this repeatedly, and I want to be clear,” Moriarty said. “There is no absolute immunity for federal agents, and we must fully be prepared to litigate these issues before filing a charge in state court.”

Federal Government Criticizes Investigation

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, criticized the county attorney’s investigation.

“Investigating federal officers does nothing to make Minnesota safer,” a DHS spokesperson said.

“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 added that assaults, vehicular attacks, and death threats against federal immigration agents had increased over the past year.

DHS also said federal officials performing their duties are protected under federal law.

In a Feb. 12 statement, Homan said that the administration has made significant progress in Minnesota and will therefore conclude the immigration enforcement surge in the state.

Reuters contributed to this report.