On Thursday, Mary Moriarty, the Attorney for Hennepin County, announced felony charges against a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, stemming from an encounter with leftist demonstrators who tried to impede his vehicle.
This incident took place on February 5, 2026, during ongoing anti-ICE protests and unrest in Minneapolis. The agent, identified as Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., encountered a disrupting group while driving along Minnesota State Highway 62.
Moriarty’s office indicated that Morgan was maneuvering an unmarked rental SUV on the shoulder, claiming he intended to bypass stationary traffic. However, a local group opposed to ICE, known as an “ICE watch” group, was trailing him, aiming to disrupt federal operations.
During this event, another vehicle entered the shoulder to obstruct Morgan. After this vehicle rejoined traffic, the officer reportedly matched their speed, lowered his window, and aimed his duty weapon at the occupants—all while remaining on the shoulder of the highway, Moriarty stated.
The encounter prompted those involved to call 911, leading to an investigation by the Minnesota State Patrol. Following the incident, troopers interviewed Morgan and his partner, while Moriarty characterized his actions as brandishing a weapon.
This altercation occurred amid Operation Metro Surge, a federal initiative initiated during the Trump administration, which sought to enhance ICE operations in Minneapolis and other areas. This operation is notable for earlier incidents, including two shootings linked to ICE, one involving an individual attempting to run over an agent with a vehicle.
According to reports, Morgan identified himself as law enforcement and instructed the other driver to halt.
🚨 BREAKING: The leftist Hennepin County, Minnesota District Attorney has just filed FELONY CHARGES against an ICE agent with two counts of 2nd degree assault with a deadly weapon
The DOJ must bring this up to FEDERAL COURT and invoke the Supremacy Clause
PROTECT ICE AGENTS!… pic.twitter.com/v3ab4lEwDy
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 16, 2026
Minnesota law classifies the act of pointing a firearm at another individual in such a manner as second-degree assault. However, this case raises critical concerns regarding federal authority.
The Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article VI, Clause 2) positions federal laws and treaties as the highest law of the land. This principle often provides federal officers immunity from state criminal prosecutions while performing their official duties.
Historically, courts have upheld that states cannot employ local charges to obstruct or undermine federal enforcement. Should Morgan’s actions be found within the realm of his federal responsibilities, particularly while managing disruptions during a federal operation, it is anticipated that the Department of Justice will seek to transfer the case to federal court.
In such a scenario, the charges could be contested and potentially dismissed based on this immunity doctrine, consistent with precedents involving federal agents.
