Federal immigration agents in Minnesota have arrested multiple individuals convicted of murder and sexual assault during a massive enforcement operation that has netted thousands of undocumented immigrants, according to Department of Homeland Security officials.
“Just yesterday, DHS law enforcement arrested murderers, sexual predators, and gang members in Minnesota,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated on January 22. “Our law enforcement officers are risking their lives to arrest these thugs — some RELEASED from Minnesota jails — and are saving countless American lives by getting these criminals out of our country.”
Operation Metro Surge Intensifies
The arrests come as part of Operation Metro Surge, a sweeping immigration enforcement initiative that began in the Twin Cities on December 4, 2025, with the deployment of at least 100 agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Federal officials launched the operation despite what they’ve characterized as limited cooperation from state authorities.
Marcos Charles, a senior ICE official, told reporters that the agency has made significant progress since the operation began. “DHS has arrested over 10,000 illegal aliens in Minnesota in the past year, and over 3300 illegal aliens since we launched Operation Metro surge on November 29,” Charles claimed in a recent briefing.
The operation hasn’t been without controversy. According to reports, Metro Surge has led to approximately 2,400 arrests, including some U.S. citizens. The operation has also been marred by violent incidents, including the killing of a woman named Renée Good on January 7 and a shooting on January 24.
Who’s Being Targeted?
Are federal agents only targeting violent criminals? Not exactly. While DHS officials emphasize dangerous offenders, the enforcement net appears much wider.
“We operate through intelligence and targeted enforcement. We are looking for certain individuals. As we are looking for these individuals, if there is somebody that is illegally in the country and amenable to removal from this country, we will arrest them,” Charles explained.
When asked about non-criminal immigrants, Charles was blunt: “Yeah, because every day they are here, they are committing a crime. They may have been here 20 years — that means for the last 20 years they have failed to do it the right way.”
McLaughlin emphasized that criminal aliens represent a significant portion of ICE enforcement actions, claiming that “70% of all ICE arrests nationwide are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S.”
The Department’s “Worst of the Worst” website reportedly listed around 490 individuals as of January 23, 2026, though it’s unclear what proportion of total arrests these cases represent.
Top immigration officials held another press briefing on January 24, but provided no updated figures on the total number of arrests during the operation.
For Minnesota communities caught in the middle of this enforcement surge, the operation represents the most aggressive immigration crackdown the state has seen in years — with no clear indication of when it might end.
