Minneapolis special education assistant files federal claim against U.S. government after Border Patrol agents allegedly assaulted and wrongfully detained him outside his school

Quentin Williams, a special education assistant at Roosevelt High School, filed an administrative claim against the U.S. government alleging that Border Patrol agents assaulted and wrongfully detained him outside his school. The Trump administration later accused him of attacking federal officers in a criminal case that was eventually dismissed.

The filing alleges that agents shoved Williams, pulled his hair, tackled him and pressed on his neck and back during an immigration enforcement operation outside the school. Williams says he did not threaten, attack or resist the officers. The filing reflects Williams’ account and does not establish that his allegations are true.

What is the claim?

The filing is a Federal Tort Claims Act claim, a mechanism for seeking compensation from the federal government. Sahan Journal reported that it also alleges false arrest, denial of rights, initiation of false criminal charges and a campaign to damage Williams’ reputation.

“My life completely changed when federal agents invaded my school community, attacked and falsely arrested me,” Williams said. “Every day, I look forward to going to school to be with my kids at Roosevelt. Some days are harder than others, but I am trying my hardest to heal.”

Danielle Berkowsky, an attorney at the MacArthur Justice Center’s Illinois office, said that Williams “is known as a teacher who loves his students fiercely and deeply cares for their well-being.” She called his case “indicative of this federal government’s complete disregard for civil rights and basic humanity” and said: “We must hold the federal government accountable.”

Operation Metro Surge

The incident occurred during Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement campaign that began in December 2025 and brought thousands of federal immigration agents to the Minneapolis area.

The operation included more than 3,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents. It was launched partly to target alleged fraud within Minnesota’s Somali immigrant community.

The operation was later overshadowed by the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent and Alex Pretti by two Border Patrol agents. It also drew allegations of misconduct, racial profiling and due process violations.

After the shootings, Greg Bovino was removed from his commander-at-large role overseeing the Minnesota operation and later retired from the Border Patrol. Newsweek reported that he has since criticized the administration from the right, arguing that it has not gone far enough on mass deportation.

The events of January 7

Hours after federal agents shot and killed Good, a convoy commanded by Bovino was conducting enforcement operations in South Minneapolis. According to the filing, agents pursued a driver through the neighborhood around Roosevelt High School.

DHS officials gave a different account. A spokesperson said that a U.S. citizen allegedly impeded officers, rammed a government vehicle and led agents on a five-mile pursuit that ended near the school.

DHS said “at no point was a school, students, or staff targeted,” and that agents would not have been there “if not for the dangerous actions of this individual.”

The department said that while agents were removing the driver, “an individual who identified himself as a teacher proceeded to assault a border patrol agent.” DHS said a crowd formed and threw objects and paint at officers and vehicles, prompting officers to use “targeted crowd control” after repeated warnings.

The department added: “No tear gas was deployed.”

The claim describes the sequence differently:

Agents boxed in the driver’s vehicle shortly after 3:30 p.m., smashed its windows, pulled the driver out and arrested him.

The driver was handcuffed and inside a government vehicle by around 3:33 p.m. and bystanders had not interfered.

Agents then moved onto school property as dismissal was ending and students were still present.

Administrators identified themselves and told the agents to leave, but the officers instead began shoving and yelling at staff.

Williams had been behind the building helping with transportation for special education students. He came to the front to see whether colleagues needed help.

The claim says he stood with other staff and community members and did not yell at or engage with the agents.

The alleged assault

As officers began leaving, Border Patrol Agent Joshua McBee allegedly turned back and forcefully shoved Williams and two other school employees while ordering them to move back. The claim says Williams raised his hands to show he was not resisting.

Border Patrol Agent Christopher Velez then allegedly ran onto the lawn and shoved one of Williams’ colleagues before slipping on the snow. From the ground, he allegedly grabbed the employee by the collar and pulled the employee down.

According to the filing, Bovino then ran toward Williams and shoved him as Williams looked toward his colleague. Multiple agents grabbed and shoved Williams as he tried to help the colleague up.

McBee allegedly pulled Williams backward by his hair and collar, while Velez tackled him, causing his head to hit the ground. The filing says Velez got on top of Williams and pressed down on his neck.

Williams alleges that he said he could not breathe. He also alleges Bovino pointed pepper spray inches from his face and threatened to use it.

Officers then forced Williams onto his stomach, pushed his head and jaw into the ground and handcuffed him. MPR News reported that video from the incident appears to show Williams being pushed and taken to the ground.

Detention at the Whipple Federal Building

Agents took Williams to the Henry Bishop Whipple Federal Building. He alleges he was kept tightly handcuffed and forced to stand outside in bitter cold without a coat for more than an hour. He says officers refused to loosen the handcuffs despite his complaints of pain.

Williams also alleges that agents taunted him, tugged on his hair and commented on potentially killing him. He says he was denied food, water and medical attention and was not allowed to call his family or a lawyer.

An officer also allegedly questioned him about his citizenship and whether he belonged to a gang.

Williams was released after approximately three hours. He alleges that no agent could explain why he had been arrested.

Public accusations and criminal charges

DHS posted a photo of Williams on X in a post announcing arrests of people accused of assaulting law enforcement. Williams alleges the post falsely implied that he had assaulted federal officers.

Federal prosecutors then charged him with felony assault of a federal officer. The case relied on an affidavit from HSI Special Agent Richard Berger, which said Williams pushed and shoved officers and grabbed and tried to pick up a Border Patrol agent.

Williams says those allegations were false.

The claim alleges that Berger was not at the school during the incident. It also alleges DHS and the Justice Department had video and other evidence contradicting the affidavit.

The filing points to a separate criminal case stemming from the same day’s events in which a federal judge said Berger submitted a “false affidavit.” The judge also raised concerns about the accuracy of affidavits Berger filed in several other assault cases. That finding was made in the separate case, not in Williams’ prosecution.

Williams voluntarily surrendered on January 28 and was handcuffed, shackled and placed in a holding cell, according to the filing.

While he was in custody, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on X that Williams and 15 others had been arrested. She called them “rioters” who had resisted and impeded federal officers and the post included booking photographs.

Williams alleges his case was still sealed when Bondi published the information.

DHS later posted images of Williams and others, describing them as “violent Anti-ICE anarchists.” His photo was labeled with his name and the words “ARRESTED: ASSAULT.”

The filing says DHS, ICE and the White House also distributed the material on social media. Williams alleges the posts damaged his reputation and exposed him to threatening messages.

The case collapses

Prosecutors reduced the felony charge to a misdemeanor on February 4. They moved to dismiss the case and a federal judge dismissed it.

Williams alleges the government has not removed the accusations and images from its social media accounts or retracted its statements.

“I hope this next step in seeking justice will hold someone accountable for what happened to me,” Williams said. “I am just so blessed to be alive.”