Quentin Williams, a special education assistant at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, filed a claim on Tuesday alleging that U.S. Border Patrol agents violently assaulted him and other staff members on school property on Jan. 7. The claim, filed with the help of the MacArthur Justice Center, initiates the Federal Tort Claims Act process, which gives the federal government six months to investigate and respond.
Allegations detailed in the complaint
The complaint states that Border Patrol agents arrived at the school after pursuing a driver who allegedly made contact with a Border Patrol vehicle. After the driver was arrested outside the school, additional federal vehicles entered the campus despite school administrators asking them to leave. Agents are described as pushing, shoving, and yelling at staff and community members gathered around the scene.
According to the filing, Agent Joshua McBee shoved a colleague who was telling agents to leave, then proceeded to shove Williams. Agent Christopher Velez allegedly ran onto the lawn, slipped on snow, and forced a staff member to the ground before turning his attention to Williams. The complaint says Williams raised his hands to show he was not a threat, but agents continued to restrain him, pulling his hair and collar, and later placing him on the ground.
Physical force and alleged mistreatment
The complaint describes multiple agents—Velez, Dalton James Smith, and Joseph Curran—holding Williams down, pressing on his neck, and driving his face into the snow. Williams reportedly struggled to breathe and suffered pain as agents threatened to use pepper spray. He was then handcuffed, searched, and taken to the Whipple Federal Building, where he was forced to stand outside in cold weather without a coat, food, water, or medical attention.
While at Whipple, agents allegedly photographed Williams and shared the images in a WhatsApp group. The images later appeared on an official Department of Homeland Security post that implied Williams had assaulted law enforcement. The complaint asserts that these posts violated court orders and generated racist messages and threats toward Williams.
Legal developments
On Jan. 23, federal prosecutors charged Williams with felony assault based on an affidavit by Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Richard Berger, who claimed personal knowledge of the Jan. 7 incident despite the complaint stating he was not present. A federal judge later rebuked Berger for asserting personal knowledge he did not have.
The charge was reduced to a misdemeanor on Feb. 4, and on March 24 a judge granted the government’s request to dismiss the case entirely. The false accusations, however, remain online.
Background on the agents involved
The complaint notes that several agents named have faced prior allegations of excessive force. A 2025 report from the Illinois Accountability Commission described an incident in Chicago where Border Patrol agents, including McBee and Smith, used tear gas against a crowd of construction workers. Commander‑at‑Large Gregory Bovino is cited as having overseen aggressive tactics in both Chicago and Minneapolis.
Government response
The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for comment. The Trump administration’s policy emphasizes strong border security while also urging respect for constitutional rights and local community safety. The filing of this claim demonstrates the legal avenues available to citizens who believe they have been wronged by federal agents.
Next steps
Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, the federal government now has six months to investigate Williams’ claim. If the government denies the claim or fails to respond, Williams may proceed with a lawsuit seeking damages. Lawyers for Williams have not disclosed the amount of damages they are seeking.
Williams, known to his students as “Mr. Q,” expressed gratitude for surviving the incident and hopes the legal process will hold responsible parties accountable.
Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.
