Minnesota Charges ICE Officer Gregory Morgan With Two Counts of Second-Degree Assault on Minneapolis Highway
Minnesota charged ICE officer Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. with two counts of second-degree assault for allegedly pointing a gun at people on Feb. 5, 2026.
Prosecutors say the Feb. 5 incident occurred on Minnesota State Highway 62 as Morgan drove a rented, unmarked SUV on the shoulder. Victims briefly moved onto the shoulder to slow the SUV and then returned to the lane before Morgan allegedly pulled alongside and pointed a handgun at both occupants through a closed window. They recorded the SUV's Utah plate, which investigators traced to a rental listed in another ICE officer's name. Morgan voluntarily told investigators he feared for his safety, drew his gun and yelled "Police Stop" to make the other car back up. Victims say they could not hear him because their windows were up. A Hennepin County arrest warrant is now nationwide, and ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have not publicly commented. County Attorney Mary Moriarty called the charges an important milestone in seeking accountability for harms linked to Operation Metro Surge and urged ICE to arrange for Morgan to surrender.
The case arrives amid Operation Metro Surge, a late-2025 federal campaign aimed at arresting more than 4,000 people described as criminal illegal aliens in urban areas. DHS sent about 3,000 officers to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area for the operation, which yielded thousands of arrests and two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens. Hennepin County also saw roughly a 10,000-person net increase from international immigration between 2023 and 2024, adding local context to tensions over enforcement. Criminal prosecutions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for actions during official duties are rare, so this case could be among the first tied to the 2025-26 surge.
Reaction on social media has been divided, with critics saying the charges expose ICE officers acting above the law and others calling the arrest warrant politically motivated. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche warned DOJ could investigate or prosecute state or local officials who arrest federal agents for actions taken in their official duties. Early mainstream stories focused on Morgan's role as an ICE officer and the basic facts of the stop. Newer reporting from outlets such as NPR and MS NOW emphasized arrest-warrant material that raised questions about recklessness and the operation's conduct. The Wall Street Journal first reported the rare criminal charge, while NPR and MS NOW expanded the record with warrant details and local prosecutor comments.
📊 Relevant Data
Hennepin County, Minnesota, experienced a net positive population change from international immigration of about 10,000 people between 2023 and 2024.
Is Hennepin County, MN's population growing or shrinking? — USA Facts
Operation Metro Surge was initiated by the Trump administration in late 2025 to target and arrest over 4,000 individuals described as criminal illegal aliens, including violent offenders, as part of a broader effort to enhance public safety in urban areas like Minneapolis.
New Milestone in Operation Metro Surge: 4000+ Criminal Illegals Removed from Minnesota Streets — The White House
Criminal prosecutions of ICE agents for actions during official duties are rare, with recent cases highlighting abuses of power but few leading to charges, making the prosecution of Gregory Morgan potentially one of the first tied to the 2025-2026 enforcement surges.
Crimes committed by ICE agents show how their powers can be abused, AP review finds — MPR News
📌 Key Facts
- Hennepin County charged 35-year-old ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officer Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., a Maryland resident detailed to Minneapolis, with two counts of felony second-degree (aggravated) assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly pointing a gun at two civilians on Feb. 5, 2026.
- The incident occurred on Minnesota State Highway 62: Morgan is accused of driving a rented, unmarked black SUV on the highway shoulder, pulling alongside a civilian car that briefly moved onto the shoulder to slow him, lowering his window and pointing a black handgun at the occupants' heads through a closed window while yelling words the victims say they could not hear.
- Victims recorded the SUV's Utah license plate; investigators traced the plate to a rental listed in another ICE officer's name who was allegedly in the vehicle, and that ICE partner told investigators the SUV had no law-enforcement markings and that Morgan already had his gun out and window down as they pulled alongside.
- In a voluntary interview Morgan said he feared for his safety, drew his service weapon, and yelled 'Police stop' to try to get the other car to back up; investigators and victims report the occupants could not hear him because their windows were up.
- An arrest warrant has been issued in Hennepin County and there is now a nationwide warrant for Morgan's arrest; Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty urged ICE to arrange for his surrender and described the case as an 'important milestone' in seeking accountability related to Operation Metro Surge.
- Local prosecutors and reports characterize the case as potentially the first criminal prosecution of a federal immigration officer tied to the Trump-era urban enforcement surge; ICE and DHS have not commented and ICE had not responded to requests for comment.
- Context: DHS deployed about 3,000 federal officers to the Minneapolis–St. Paul area in what it called Operation Metro Surge, an operation that led to thousands of arrests and two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens in January; acting DOJ official Todd Blanche has warned the Justice Department could investigate or prosecute state and local officials who arrest federal agents for actions taken in their official duties.
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- MS NOW piece confirms additional narrative detail from the arrest warrant: Morgan allegedly drove on the highway shoulder, the other car tried to block him from using it, and he then pointed a gun at the occupants’ heads through a closed window.
- Clarifies that investigators say the victims could not hear what Morgan said because his window was up, while Morgan claims he yelled “police stop” and feared for his safety and that of others.
- Adds that Morgan’s ICE partner told investigators their SUV had no law-enforcement markings and that Morgan already had his gun out and window down as they pulled alongside the victims’ vehicle.
- Confirms Morgan is believed to be a Maryland resident and that ICE has not responded to requests for comment, while Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty publicly urged ICE to arrange for him to surrender.
- Reiterates that the case is being framed by Moriarty as part of a larger effort to seek accountability for harms from the Minneapolis immigration crackdown, even though the charges are not directly tied to January’s fatal ICE shootings.
- Reiterates that Minnesota prosecutors have charged ICE agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. with felony second‑degree assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly pointing a gun at two civilians while detailed to Minnesota.
- Frames the case as one to ‘keep an eye on,’ highlighting its potential broader implications for accountability in Operation Metro Surge.
- Identifies the charged officer as 35-year-old Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., a Maryland resident in ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division detailed to Minneapolis.
- Specifies that Morgan faces two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly pointing a handgun at two people in another vehicle on Feb. 5, 2026.
- Details the incident: an unmarked black SUV driving on the highway shoulder, the victims briefly blocking the SUV, Morgan allegedly pulling alongside, pointing a black handgun at both occupants, and yelling something they could not understand.
- Reports that victims took a video of the SUV’s Utah license plate, which investigators traced to a rental in another ICE officer’s name who was allegedly in the vehicle.
- Includes Morgan’s voluntary interview account that he feared for his safety, drew his gun, and yelled “Police Stop,” claiming he was trying to get the other car to back up.
- Notes Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s statement that this is an “important milestone” in seeking accountability for harms during Operation Metro Surge and explains why this case is moving faster than three January ICE shooting investigations.
- States there is now a nationwide warrant for Morgan’s arrest and that ICE and DHS have not commented.
- Confirms Morgan is charged with two counts of second-degree aggravated assault and that an arrest warrant has been issued in Hennepin County.
- Specifies the incident occurred February 5 on Minnesota State Highway 62 while Morgan drove a rented, unmarked SUV on the shoulder.
- Details that a civilian car briefly moved onto the shoulder to slow the SUV, then returned to its lane before Morgan allegedly pointed his service weapon at the occupants.
- Quotes Morgan telling a Minnesota State Patrol officer he drew his firearm and yelled 'Police Stop,' though victims reportedly could not hear him with windows up.
- Reports Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty believes this is the first criminal case against a federal immigration officer tied to Trump’s urban enforcement surge.
- Adds that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has warned DOJ could investigate or prosecute state and local officials who arrest federal agents for actions taken in their official duties.
- Notes DHS deployed about 3,000 federal officers to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area for what it called its largest immigration enforcement operation ever, resulting in thousands of arrests and two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens.