Leaked documents reveal ICE agent shortage in Minnesota: “We do have personnel but some just don’t want to go”

The shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis by an ICE agent along with the Trump administration’s machinations to twist the narrative around the incident and evade any accountability has dramatically inflamed sentiments across the nation. Mass protests have erupted far beyond the Twin Cities over the killing of the unarmed mother of three, who the White House has called a “domestic terrorist.”

Not only have ordinary citizens had enough, prompting them to speak out, but those within the Department of Homeland Security. Allegedly, the names of over 4,500 Border Patrol and ICE have been leaked by a whistleblower. Likewise, personnel within DHS have reached out to journalist Ken Klippenstein to say that agents are raising concerns about personal safety amidst political climate created by Trump administration.

“We do have personnel but some just don’t want to go”

The Trump administration announced that it would surge more immigration agents into Minnesota and the Twin Cities as part of its “Operation Metro Surge” after the fatal shooting of Good. However, in the case of US Customs and Border Patrol at least, it is apparently having difficulty finding people willing to participate according to an internal memo, reports Klippenstein.

In the memo, CBP Acting Assistant Chief Joshua Andrew Post asked offices to “please begin canvassing your personnel for volunteers.” A Border Patrol agent informed Klippenstein that the memo indicates that there is “real unease in the ranks,” given the situation in the wake of the fatal shooting of Good.

“We do have personnel but some just don’t want to go,” the border patrol agent told Klippenstein. He said the fact that they are asking agents to go on a ‘voluntary’ basis was key.

“If no experienced senior agents step up, they send the new guys straight out of the academy,” they explained, adding, “not a good idea.”

Concern that ICE’s heavy handedness and White House rhetoric putting officers’ lives in danger

Another source, a senior DHS official, told the journalist that staff at the agency is concerned about the public backlash. While “most field officers see a clear need for deescalation,” they pointed out, “there might be some immature knuckleheads.”

The official explained that there is “dread that the gung-ho types that ICE and the Border Patrol are bringing in have a propensity towards confrontation and even violence.”

“There is genuine fear that indeed ICE’s heavy handedness and the rhetoric from Washington is more creating a condition where the officers’ lives are in danger rather than the other way around,” the official said.

“There is a video and she just lied”

This has been compounded by the White House not holding the agent who shot Good, who has been identified as Jonathan Ross, accountable for his actions and lying about the events that took place.

Shortly after the fatal encounter last week, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told the public that Good “attempted to run a law enforcement officer over,” which she has continued to say. However, video of the incident shows a far different story. “There is a video and she just lied,” the border agent told Klippenstein.

“Kristi Noem lying her ass off on what happened is like saying to the federal agents on the ground: ‘Go ahead and do whatever you have to do. We got your back. We will find a way to justify it,’” the agent reflected. “In a nutshell, it’s ‘Us versus them’ on steroids and I think some Border Patrol agents are more willing to use force and not feel restrained when you got DHS leadership lying to cover for them.”

Border Patrol chief reminds agents of people’s Constitutional rights

Klippenstein’s sources also shared with him that Border Patrol Tactical Commander Greg Bovino has issued a “Legal Refresher” for agents in the field of people’s Constitutional rights when they interact with them. It also warned them about steps to take for operational security. Additionally, it explained when ‘use of force’ was applicable under the Fourth Amendment.

It told them that it is legal for individuals to direct profanity, insults and rude gestures at officers as well as argue with them, challenge their authority or just giving them lip.

However, it is not legal for civilians to use fighting words, language that incites violence or lawlessness, nor that which threatens violence against an officer.

Furthermore, agents were given operation security guidelines such as not wearing a uniform or identifiable work paraphernalia when entering or exiting their hotel, nor leaving any on their belongings. Additionally, not to divulge any information related to operations, using caution with social media posts and keeping location settings turned off and switching online settings to private.

“It sounds like they’re entering a war zone,” one intelligence official told Klippenstein. “Telling a bunch of 20-somethings to be prepared for war — and terrorism — creates the very condition officials are cautioning about.”

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