Gregory Bovino faces criminal investigation after Minneapolis killings
Hennepin County Attorney investigating 17 incidents of potential unlawful conduct
In December 2025, the Trump administration deployed 3,000 federal agents to Minneapolis-St. Paul in an operation DHS called its largest ever. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino ran the operation on the ground. Bovino had built a reputation for aggressive tactics in 2025, overseeing enforcement raids in Chicago, Charlotte, and Los Angeles. Trump praised him publicly, posting that Bovino went scorched earth on Democratic governors. ProPublica Star Tribune
Key Concepts
Essential concepts and terms to understand this topic
Search and Seizure
Protection against unreasonable government searches and seizures.
Inspector General
An independent official embedded in a federal agency who investigates waste, fraud, and abuse, and reports findings to both the agency and Congress.
Immigration Process
Legal procedures for foreign nationals to enter and remain in the U.S.
Oversight and Accountability
The principle that government officials and institutions must answer for their actions.
Key People
7
Gregory Bovino
Former Border Patrol Commander-at-Large
Bovino directed Operation Metro Surge across Minneapolis-St. Paul and oversaw the agents involved in both killings. He publicly defended the shooters, called the victims suspects, and falsely claimed Pretti had brandished a weapon. After protests intensified and public support for the administration collapsed, Trump demoted him and reassigned him to California. He is now under criminal investigation by Hennepin County for using chemical irritants on protesters.
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Jesus Ochoa
Border Patrol Agent, Operation Metro Surge
ProPublica identified Ochoa, 43, as one of two CBP officers who shot and killed Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026. He was assigned to Operation Metro Surge. CBP refused to release agent names publicly. Ochoa has remained employed by CBP and has not been federally charged.
RG
Raymundo Gutierrez
CBP Officer, Operation Metro Surge
Identified alongside Ochoa as the second officer who fired shots killing Pretti. Gutierrez, 35, was also assigned to Operation Metro Surge. Bovino stated both agents would remain Border Patrol agents. The federal government has blocked state investigators from accessing evidence related to both killings.
MM
Mary Moriarty
Hennepin County Attorney
Moriarty launched the Transparency and Accountability Project in March 2026 to collect evidence and investigate 17 instances of potentially unlawful conduct by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge. She is investigating Bovino directly for the chemical irritant incident and has said she is confident her office can pursue charges in the deaths of both Good and Pretti. She warned she would sue the federal government if it continued withholding evidence.
Tom Homan
White House Border Czar
Trump sent Homan to Minnesota after the Pretti killing to replace Bovino and signal a change in approach. Homan announced on February 12 that the surge would wind down. Within a week, ICE activity in the Twin Cities dropped significantly, though community advocates said enforcement never fully stopped.
Kristi Noem
Secretary of Homeland Security
Noem oversaw the DHS agencies running Operation Metro Surge and publicly labeled both Good and Pretti domestic terrorists after they were killed. Video evidence contradicted her characterizations of both cases. She also claimed Pretti had brandished his weapon, which video disproved. Two Republican senators called for her resignation. She testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3, 2026, and declined to apologize or retract her statements.
Tim Walz
Governor of Minnesota
Walz called the operation a retribution campaign from the start and challenged its legality. After Pretti was killed, he addressed Trump directly at a press conference: What is the plan, Donald Trump? Under his leadership, Minnesota filed a federal lawsuit invoking the Tenth Amendment against DHS, arguing the mass deployment of federal agents to perform general policing was unconstitutional.
Claims & Perspectives
False
False
Alex Pretti brandished a firearm at federal agents before he was shot
Noem and Bovino both claimed Pretti brandished his weapon before being shot. Bystander video reviewed by Reuters, the BBC, the Wall Street Journal, and the Associated Press shows Pretti filming agents with his phone. His firearm was not visible until after officers had already pinned him to the ground and removed the gun from him seconds before shots were fired. [1][2]
False
Renee Good and Alex Pretti were domestic terrorists
Trump administration officials including Noem and Stephen Miller labeled both Good and Pretti domestic terrorists. Noem later claimed she did not call Pretti a domestic terrorist but said the incident appeared to be an act of domestic terrorism. Video evidence, sworn witness affidavits, and congressional testimony from ICE and CBP leadership contradicted the characterization. Republican senators Tillis and Murkowski rejected the label and called for Noem to resign. Pretti's family called the administration claims reprehensible. [1][2]
True
True
Operation Metro Surge cost Minneapolis more than $200 million in January 2026
The city Emergency Operations Center calculated costs across food, livelihood, shelter, and mental health services. The total includes $5 million in police overtime, $81 billion in local business revenue losses, $47 million in worker wages lost, and $4.7 million in hotel cancellations. More than 76,000 people experienced food insecurity and over 8,700 school-age children needed emergency food services. [1]
True
ICE violated at least 96 court orders in Minnesota in January 2026
Minnesota Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz issued this finding on January 28, 2026. Judge Jerry Blackwell separately stated that the overwhelming majority of ICE cases brought before him involved people who were lawfully present in the United States. [1]
Disputed
Disputed
Federal officers have immunity from state criminal prosecution for conduct during official duties
DHS claimed that federal officers acting in the course of their duties are immune from state law. White House officials invoked federal immunity repeatedly. However, Hennepin County Attorney Moriarty disputes this and says her office is not afraid of the legal fight. Legal experts told PBS that courts have not issued a blanket ruling of state immunity for federal agents, and Moriarty said she is confident her office can pursue charges. [1][2]
What you can do
Submit evidence to the Hennepin County Transparency and Accountability Project
civic action
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty opened an online portal where anyone with photos, video, or eyewitness accounts of federal agent conduct during Operation Metro Surge can submit evidence. Her office is already investigating 17 incidents and plans to pursue charges where the evidence supports it.
Call your U.S. senator to demand a federal civil rights investigation into both killings
civic action
The DOJ opened a civil rights inquiry into Pretti's death but refused to investigate Good's death. The FBI blocked state investigators from accessing evidence in her case. Congress can pressure DOJ to expand the investigation to cover both victims.
Donate to or volunteer with Twin Cities food and legal relief organizations
community support
Operation Metro Surge caused food insecurity for more than 76,000 people and left over 8,700 school-age children needing emergency food services. Community organizations continue serving affected families and providing legal support to those impacted by ICE enforcement.