MINNEAPOLIS — Hennepin County prosecutors charged an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent with two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon on Thursday for allegedly pointing a gun at two motorists during an incident on a Minneapolis highway in February.
Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, of Temple Hills, Maryland, faces the felony charges related to events on Feb. 5 while he was driving an unmarked federal vehicle back to immigration offices at the end of his shift, according to an arrest warrant filed by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. Prosecutors said Morgan pulled alongside a civilian vehicle on Minnesota State Highway 62 and pointed his service weapon at the driver and passenger.
The charges mark the first criminal case brought by state or local prosecutors against a federal immigration officer for actions taken during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, known as Operation Metro Surge, officials said. Moriarty described the case as one of about 18 incidents involving federal agents now under review by her office.
Moriarty said in a statement: “Today's charges reflect an important milestone in our efforts to seek accountability for the harms inflicted on our community during Operation Metro Surge.”
The warrant alleges that the occupants of the other vehicle felt threatened by Morgan’s actions. A nationwide arrest warrant has been issued for Morgan, prosecutors said. Details of any response from Morgan or his legal representation were not immediately available.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security had not issued a public statement on the charges as of Friday. Federal authorities have previously defended the conduct of agents during the surge operations, which involved increased enforcement in the Twin Cities and other major cities.
The incident occurred amid heightened federal immigration activity in Minnesota earlier this year. Separately, state prosecutors have investigated other complaints regarding federal operations, though no additional charges have been announced.
Morgan remains at large, according to court records. If convicted on the charges, he could face significant prison time, though exact sentencing ranges were not detailed in initial announcements.
As of Friday, no court date had been set. Hennepin County officials said the investigation continues, and further charges against other agents remain possible. The U.S. Department of Justice had no immediate comment on whether it would seek to intervene in the state case.
