MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent has been charged with assault after allegedly brandishing his weapon at individuals in a vehicle on a Minneapolis highway, according to local prosecutors.
The Hennepin County arrest warrant charges Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. with two counts of second-degree aggravated assault, stemming from an incident that occurred on February 5. Morgan was identified as an ICE officer operating in the Minneapolis area when he pointed his gun at the occupants of another vehicle on Minnesota State Highway 62.
Mary Moriarty, the Hennepin County Attorney, stated that this is the first criminal case targeting a federal immigration officer amid the Trump administration's aggressive enforcement actions, which extended federal operations to several major cities, including Minneapolis.
The actions of Morgan, 35, occurred while he was driving an unmarked rented SUV. An altercation began when the occupants of another car moved to the shoulder in an attempt to let Morgan pass, unaware of his federal status. Morgan reportedly pulled up beside them and brandished his service weapon while yelling “Police Stop,” an order the victims couldn’t hear as their windows were raised.
Moriarty emphasized the importance of accountability for law enforcement actions, underscoring that there’s no absolute immunity for federal agents who violate state laws.
The seriousness of the charges, which carry potential penalties of up to seven years in prison, highlights ongoing tensions regarding the federal crackdown on immigration enforcement in Minnesota, which led to widespread protests and intense public scrutiny following a surge in federal operations that resulted in numerous arrests and violent incidents.
