A Minnesota prosecutor initiated an investigation into potential unlawful activities by federal agents following the recent surge of immigration enforcement activity in the state.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty created the Transparency and Accountability Project (TAP), an effort aiming to “collect and assess evidence submitted by the public of potentially unlawful behavior by federal agents.” The portal allows residents to upload photos, videos, and details of any incident involving federal officers.
“Our TAP team is actively investigating 17 incidents that have been brought to our attention by the community, including Gregory Kent Bovino’s actions near Mueller Park on January 21,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “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,” Moriarty continued. “But we will do this ethically, responsibly, and vigorously. TAP is fundamental to our efforts to ensure the transparency and accountability that our community deserves. This is just the beginning.”
Discussing the matter in more detail through a social media video, Moriarty said potentially “unlawful” activities include “when [U.S. Border Patrol] Commander Greg Bovino threw gas at residents near Mueller Park in January,” while another is “where federal agents interacted with staff and students at Roosevelt High School, also in January.”
The Department of Homeland Security condemned the portal, saying in a statement obtained by The Associated Press that the action is “unlawful, and they know it.”
“Federal officials acting in the course of their duties are immune from liability under state law,” DHS added.
Similar reporting portals have been established in New Jersey, California, and New York.
