Federal agents have swept through Minnesota communities in what officials are calling the “largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out,” arresting individuals with extensive criminal histories while drawing sharp criticism from state and local authorities.
On January 16, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the results of Operation Metro Surge, a targeted enforcement effort that federal officials claim has removed some of the most dangerous criminal immigrants from Minnesota neighborhoods. The operation, which began in December 2025, initially focused on Minneapolis and Saint Paul before expanding statewide.
High-Profile Arrests
Among those apprehended was Brian Anjain, a Marshall Islands native with an astonishing 24 criminal convictions. His record includes assault causing bodily injury, domestic abuse, public nudity, theft, and various other offenses, according to DHS documents.
Another significant arrest involved Hien Quoc Thai, a Vietnamese national previously convicted of murder. Authorities also detained Eddy Xol-Lares, a Venezuelan national charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine aboard a vessel, DHS officials said.
The scope of the operation has been massive. DHS deployed over 2,000 agents to the Twin Cities alone—a figure that exceeds the combined number of sworn police officers in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
Legal Challenges Mount
But the operation has sparked intense backlash. The State of Minnesota, along with Minneapolis and Saint Paul, has filed a lawsuit alleging constitutional violations, including infringements of the First and Tenth Amendments and the Constitution’s guarantee of equal sovereignty between state and federal governments.
What’s driving the legal pushback? Accusations of racial profiling and indiscriminate arrests without proper legal authority.
The ACLU has separately sued the federal government, claiming ICE and CBP agents have conducted warrantless arrests of Minnesotans without probable cause, particularly targeting Somali and Latino communities.
ICE reports making over 2,000 arrests across Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge, though the number of those with actual criminal records remains unclear.
Federal Officials Defend Actions
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the operation in stark terms. “As our law enforcement are facing rampant violence against them, they arrested murderers, drug traffickers, and an illegal with 24 criminal convictions in Minneapolis yesterday,” McLaughlin stated. “These are the criminals Governor Walz and Mayor Frey are protecting. No American wants these criminals for neighbors.”
The confrontation highlights growing tensions between federal immigration authorities and state and local governments over enforcement priorities and methods. At the heart of the dispute lies fundamental questions about jurisdictional authority, constitutional protections, and the balance between public safety and civil liberties.
As the operation continues and legal challenges proceed through the courts, Minnesota communities remain caught in the crossfire of one of the most aggressive immigration enforcement actions in recent memory.
