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Prosecutors in a Minnesota county charge ICE agent with assault

From Jerusalem Post · (1d ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent has been charged with assault in Minnesota for allegedly pointing his gun at two people.
  • This is reportedly the first such charge against an ICE officer related to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
  • The incident occurred in February when the agent allegedly drove on the shoulder of a highway and pointed his weapon at another vehicle.

In a significant development, prosecutors in Minnesota's Hennepin County have brought assault charges against a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, Gregory Donnell Morgan. This marks a notable instance, believed to be the first of its kind, where an ICE officer faces charges stemming from actions taken during the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement efforts in the state.

Prosecutors in Minnesota's Hennepin County have charged a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent with assault for allegedly pointing his gun at two people in a car along a highway in Minneapolis in February.

— REUTERSReporting the core details of the legal charges against the ICE agent.

The charges stem from an incident in February where Morgan, 35, allegedly pointed his service weapon at two individuals in another vehicle. According to prosecutors, the agent was driving on the highway shoulder to bypass traffic when the alleged victims' car briefly moved to slow him down. Morgan then allegedly pulled alongside their vehicle, rolled down his window, and pointed his gun at them while continuing to drive illegally on the shoulder.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said on Thursday she believed the charges were the first to be brought against an ICE officer over actions related to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minnesota earlier this year.

— REUTERSHighlighting the unprecedented nature of the charges.

Morgan's defense, as stated in the complaint, is that he feared for his safety and the safety of others. However, this incident occurs amidst a broader national debate surrounding ICE's role and tactics. While President Trump has championed ICE's actions as crucial for national security and curbing illegal immigration, rights advocates contend that the crackdown infringes upon free speech and due process, fostering an environment of fear, particularly for minority communities. The charges against Morgan underscore the legal scrutiny now being applied to federal immigration enforcement actions.

The officer, identified as 35-year-old Gregory Donnell Morgan, allegedly pointed a gun at two people in another vehicle along a highway in the Twin Cities area, according to prosecutors.

— REUTERSIdentifying the accused agent and detailing the alleged action.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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