Cellphone footage from Minneapolis shows a large group of protesters gathering around federal Border Patrol agents during an enforcement operation near the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building. As demonstrators closed in and refused repeated orders to step back, officers warned the crowd that they would deploy crowd-control measures unless a safe distance was maintained.
In one widely shared clip, Border Patrol Commander Gregory K. Bovino can be heard issuing warnings such as “Get back, gas is coming” and “You just gotta get back” before deploying a green smoke canister into the crowd. The device released thick green smoke that spread across the area, prompting many protesters to disperse or flee the scene.
Video from the encounter shows agents in tactical gear attempting to maintain a perimeter as demonstrators recorded the scene and chanted names like “Sabino,” an apparent reference to agents or commanders present. As the green smoke billowed, some bystanders were seen coughing or moving away from the plume, creating a chaotic moment in the protest.
The use of chemical irritants and smoke comes amid heightened tensions in Minneapolis, where federal agents continue enforcement actions following earlier clashes and controversial incidents. A federal appeals court recently lifted a lower court’s restriction on ICE tactics, temporarily allowing immigration agents more leeway in responding to confrontations with protesters.
Officials state that crowd-control tools are deployed only when there is interference with federal operations or safety risks to law enforcement and bystanders. Critics argue that aggressive tactics can inflame tensions and raise concerns about the treatment of demonstrators. As protests continue, footage from multiple encounters has repeatedly drawn public attention and debate.
