Illegal aliens with extensive and violent criminal histories are being arrested daily as federal authorities ramp up immigration enforcement in Minnesota, a long-standing sanctuary state.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), more than 1,500 illegal aliens have been taken into custody during Operation Metro Surge.
Officials describe the operation as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever conducted in the state.
The effort, launched last month by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has concentrated heavily on the Twin Cities metro area, where federal officials say years of lax local enforcement allowed dangerous offenders to remain at large.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said the operation is focused on removing the most serious threats to public safety.
“ICE has provided Fox News a list of the most egregious criminal aliens they’ve arrested during their surge in the sanctuary state of Minnesota, and it’s the most disturbing list I’ve ever seen,” Fox News’s Bill Melugin reported.
“It includes numerous convicted child rapists and sodomizers, as well as ten convicted killers — most of whom had final deportation orders going back many years.
“Several are from Laos, Somalia, and Sudan.”
Some of the Most Violent Criminal Aliens Arrested
Federal authorities released details on several of the offenders apprehended in recent weeks:
• Hernan Cortes-Valencia (Mexico): Convictions for child sexual assault, sexual assault-carnal abuse, and four DUIs. Ordered deported in 2016.
• Sriudorn Phaivan (Laos): Convictions include sodomy of a boy and a girl, aggravated sexual offenses, nine counts of larceny, vehicle theft, fraud, burglary, drug possession, and obstruction of justice. Ordered deported in 2018.
• Ge Yang (Laos): Convictions for rape, aggravated assault with a weapon, domestic violence by strangulation, and additional sex offenses. Ordered deported in 2012.
• Vannaleut Keomany (Laos): Convicted of two counts of attempted rape. Ordered deported in 2009.
• Tou Vang (Laos): Convicted of sexual assault and sodomy of a girl under 13 and procuring a child for prostitution. Ordered deported in 2006.
• Chong Vue (Laos): Convictions for rape of a 12-year-old, kidnapping with intent to sexually assault, and vehicle theft. Ordered deported in 2004.
• Kou Lor (Laos): Convictions for rape, rape with a weapon, statutory rape, burglary, and shoplifting. Ordered deported in 1996.
• Pao Choua Xiong (Laos): Convictions include rape, child fondling, domestic violence, burglary, and larceny. Ordered deported in 2003.
• Gilberto Salguero Landaverde (El Salvador): Convicted of three counts of homicide. Ordered deported in 2025.
• Mariama Sia Kanu (Sierra Leone): Convictions for two homicides, multiple DUIs, larceny, and burglary. Ordered deported in 2022.
• Abdirashid Adosh Elmi (Somalia): Convicted of homicide.
SEXUAL ASSAULT AGAINST A CHILD
SEXUAL ASSAULT-CARNAL ABUSE
FOUR DUIsHernan Cortes-Valencia, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, has a final order of removal dated 12/01/2016. pic.twitter.com/aUj0L1pImU
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) January 11, 2026
Federal Officials Defend Enforcement Push
Lyons said political opposition would not deter federal agents from continuing the operation.
“Regardless of staged political theatrics, ICE is going to continue to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota and elsewhere,” he said.
“Some of these individuals have had final orders of removal for decades, yet they were free to terrorize Minnesotans.
“ICE arrests prevent repeat offenses and make communities safer, even if local politicians refuse to acknowledge that reality.”
Enforcement Escalation Continues
Roughly 2,000 federal agents are currently operating in Minnesota, with another 1,000 either deployed or placed on standby as investigations expand.
Federal officials say resistance from local leaders and activist groups has intensified, but the operation remains ongoing.
The Trump administration has made clear that sanctuary policies will not prevent federal law enforcement from carrying out immigration laws, particularly when violent criminals are involved.
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