The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday that they have apprehended a group of serious criminal undocumented immigrants during Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. One of those arrested had a staggering 24 criminal convictions.
Interestingly, the agency placed some of the blame on state and local officials for not cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
DHS argued that these arrests highlight the outcomes of ICE’s enforcement activities in areas that do not comply with federal immigration laws. This situation seems to contrast sharply with the positions held by Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who have reportedly not shown adequate support for ICE detainees. According to DHS, this lack of cooperation has allowed numerous criminal undocumented immigrants to return to communities in Minnesota.
Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS Assistant Secretary, commented on the arrests, mentioning work done in Minneapolis, which included apprehending a murderer and a drug trafficker. She emphasized that “no American wants these criminals in their neighborhoods,” implying that the current leadership is failing to protect the public.
Operation Metro Surge specifically targets criminal undocumented aliens in Minnesota, aiming to remove them from local neighborhoods. The focus, as stated by the department, is on individuals with severe criminal records, particularly those convicted of violent crimes.
Among those arrested was Hien Quoc Thai, a Vietnamese national previously charged with murder. Also apprehended was Brian Anjain from the Marshall Islands, who has a long record of offenses including assault, domestic violence, and theft.
DHS noted that another arrested individual, Eddy Sor Lares from Venezuela, was convicted of conspiracy related to cocaine distribution.
In addition to the aforementioned individuals, the operation included undocumented immigrants from various countries such as Guatemala, Cuba, Mexico, Honduras, South Africa, and Romania. The crimes committed by those arrested ranged from domestic violence and DUI offenses to more serious issues like robbery and firearms possession.
According to the department, the current sanctuary policies in place have allowed around 470 criminal undocumented aliens to remain in Minnesota communities since President Trump took office.
In a related note, DHS called on Governor Walz and Mayor Frey to acknowledge the more than 1,360 foreign ICE detainees currently in custody, many of whom are violent criminals, suggesting that cooperation would lead to better public safety.
For those interested, additional details about nationwide arrests can be found in the agency’s public database, which tracks serious criminal enforcement actions.
