A Minnesota state prosecutor has launched an investigation that could lead to charges against US immigration officers, including Greg Bovino, for misconduct during a recent immigration enforcement crackdown. The investigation is focusing on 17 cases, including incidents where Bovino, a border patrol official, threw a smoke canister at protesters on January 21st. The prosecutor's office is also looking into the federal agents' shooting deaths of 37-year-old US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti on January 7th and 24th, respectively. These incidents have sparked nationwide demonstrations and criticisms of federal immigration enforcement use-of-force policies. Another case on January 7th involved federal officers making an arrest outside a high school and deploying chemical irritants while students and staff were in the area. The prosecutor, Mary Moriarty, emphasized her office's commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that they are prepared to sue the federal government to obtain the evidence needed for the Good and Pretti investigations if they do not respond by Tuesday. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees immigration enforcement, has responded by asserting that such enforcement is a federal responsibility and that states cannot prosecute federal officers. However, the prosecutor's office has set up an online portal for uploading photos, videos, and eyewitness accounts from Operation Metro Surge, indicating a thorough investigation. The Trump administration has defended federal officers, but legal experts suggest that the prosecutor's office is collecting evidence for potential criminal charges, including assault or property damage, in cases of unjustified use of chemical weapons or other aggressive tactics.
