DHS Arrests Seven More Criminal Illegal Immigrants in Minneapolis Operation

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Friday that it has apprehended seven more individuals during its ongoing Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, describing them as “pedophiles, gang members and drug traffickers” who were in the country illegally.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released what officials called its latest “worst of the worst” list, detailing offenders from Somalia, Venezuela, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and Guatemala.

“Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey protected these criminals at the expense of the safety of Americans,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement. “President Trump and Secretary Noem have a clear message for criminal illegal aliens: LEAVE NOW. If you don’t, we will find you, arrest you, and deport you.”

Among those arrested were two Somali nationals with convictions related to sexual offenses against minors. Abdi Gelle Mohamed was previously convicted of sexual abuse of a minor, while Sahal Osman Shidane was convicted of sexual conduct with a victim between 13 and 15 years old.

A third Somali national, Mukhtar Mohamed Ali, had prior convictions for robbery and domestic assault, according to DHS officials.

The operation also led to the capture of Andriu Javier Padron-Chacare, a Venezuelan national identified by authorities as a member of the Tren de Aragua gang. DHS indicated he had a theft conviction and had been previously deported from the United States.

Job Catani Cardenas of Ecuador was apprehended for a domestic assault conviction, while Humberto Disla Sarita from the Dominican Republic had been convicted of conspiracy to import at least 50 kilograms of cocaine.

Completing the list was Ernesto Vides-Cabrera, a Guatemalan national with prior convictions for driving under the influence and assault.

This latest round of arrests follows DHS’s announcement on Thursday that it had detained at least a dozen other illegal immigrants in Minneapolis as part of the same operation. That group included five individuals from Somalia, six from Mexico, and one from El Salvador.

Operation Metro Surge represents part of a broader enforcement effort targeting individuals with criminal records who are in the country illegally. The operation has sparked debate about immigration enforcement priorities and public safety concerns in urban centers.

Immigration enforcement has become increasingly contentious in Minneapolis, where local policies regarding cooperation with federal immigration authorities have been under scrutiny. Critics of sanctuary-type policies argue they can shield criminals from deportation, while defenders maintain they help build trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement.

The arrests come amid heightened national attention on immigration enforcement and border security. The current administration has emphasized targeting those with criminal histories for removal, particularly focusing on violent offenders and those with convictions related to sexual crimes, gang activity, and drug trafficking.

In a related development, the Justice Department filed federal charges this week against Abdimahat Bille Mohamed, a 28-year-old convicted sex offender in Minnesota. He allegedly kidnapped and raped a woman he met on Snapchat in September. Despite being sentenced in May for two unrelated sexual assault cases, a judge had allowed him to serve no prison time under a plea agreement, a decision that has drawn significant criticism.

The DHS has indicated that Operation Metro Surge will continue as part of its targeted enforcement strategy against individuals deemed to pose public safety threats. Immigration officials emphasized that their focus remains on individuals with serious criminal histories rather than general immigration violations.