Hennepin County Probes Federal Agents in Immigration Raids

Hennepin County Attorney's Office in Minnesota launched an investigation Monday into more than a dozen incidents involving former U.S. Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and other federal immigration agents during a weeks-long enforcement operation in the Minneapolis area. The probe focuses on allegations of unlawful conduct, including the use of force against protesters and residents, as part of a new Transparency and Accountability Project aimed at gathering public evidence.

The office, led by County Attorney Mary Moriarty, announced the creation of an online portal where community members can submit photos, videos, and written descriptions of potential misconduct by agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. A team of prosecutors and a civilian investigator is already reviewing evidence from 17 specific incidents reported by residents. Moriarty emphasized the initiative's goal of promoting transparency amid limited cooperation from federal authorities.

Among the cases under scrutiny is an incident on January 21 at Mueller Park in south Minneapolis, where Bovino and agents deployed chemical irritants, including a smoke canister,...