Minnesota Authorities Launch Criminal Probe into Border Patrol Operations
State law enforcement officials in Minnesota have confirmed that more than a dozen incidents led by Donald Trump's Border Patrol chief in Minneapolis are now under criminal investigation. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office is examining the actions of now-former "commander at large" Greg Bovino and officers under his command to determine whether any laws were broken during the weeks-long surge of immigration officers into the state.
Seventeen Incidents Under Scrutiny in Transparency Project
County prosecutors and a civilian staffer are meticulously reviewing evidence from at least 17 separate incidents as part of the state's "Transparency and Accountability Project." Among the serious allegations under review is an incident where Bovino allegedly lobbed a smoke canister into a crowd of protesters. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty stated firmly, "We will investigate and pursue charging where appropriate, and we'll seek collaboration with local law enforcement wherever and whenever needed. Make no mistake, we are not afraid of any legal fight. But we will do this ethically, responsibly and vigorously."
Fatal Shootings and Political Fallout
The investigation follows growing public outrage after agents under Bovino's command fatally shot two demonstrators in Minneapolis. Border Patrol agents killed Alex Pretti last month, just two weeks after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot Renee Good. After bipartisan political pressure mounted, Trump deployed White House border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota, and Bovino was subsequently sent back to his post at a Customs and Border Protection branch in southern California near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Pattern of Controversy in Chicago Operations
Bovino's previous operation in Chicago was marked by significant controversy, including a wave of lawsuits and allegations of violent force. A federal judge ultimately banned officers from firing tear gas and using other riot weapons during protests after video evidence and courtroom testimony revealed behavior that she described as "shocks the conscience." In one particularly troubling incident, after a Border Patrol agent in Chicago shot a woman five times, Bovino congratulated the officer and offered to extend his service with the agency, according to messages released by the Department of Justice. The victim, Marimar Martinez, is now suing the administration.
Internal Resistance and Chain of Command Issues
Before his deployment to Chicago, Bovino reportedly pushed back against internal efforts to focus Border Patrol operations on "targeted" arrests rather than large-scale sweeps. Emails obtained by NBC News reveal that ICE's acting director Todd Lyons instructed Bovino to focus on arresting individuals already on federal law enforcement's radar for immigration violations. Bovino responded that he "declined" the directive, asserting he reported directly to Corey Lewandowski, a top aide to Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem.
Legal Battles Over Evidence and Investigations
Hours after Pretti's killing in Minneapolis last month, state law enforcement agencies sued to block Homeland Security officials from destroying or altering any evidence from the scene. A federal judge appointed by Trump initially granted the order but later reversed the freeze, arguing that inflammatory statements by administration officials and a potentially compromised crime scene were insufficient to block federal agencies from handling evidence. The administration has formally blocked state law enforcement from accessing any information or evidence collected in that case. Meanwhile, Hennepin County officials have opened an evidence-collection portal to accept information from the public about Pretti's death, and Pretti's family has urged the FBI and Minnesota authorities to conduct a joint investigation.
