Federal immigration authorities announced a major enforcement operation in Minnesota this week, resulting in the arrests of dozens of non-citizens with extensive criminal records, including convictions for murder and child rape. The operation has intensified the ongoing standoff between federal enforcement officers and state officials regarding Minnesota’s “sanctuary” policies.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials stated that the individuals targeted in the sweep were not merely immigration violators but had been convicted of violent crimes in the U.S. justice system. The agency released a detailed roster of those apprehended, characterizing them as the “worst of the worst.”
The operation was conducted against a backdrop of significant political friction. ICE leadership explicitly criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, arguing that state and local policies are obstructing federal law enforcement and effectively shielding dangerous criminals.
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“Regardless of staged political theatrics, ICE is going to continue to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota and elsewhere,” said ICE Director Todd M. Lyons.
Lyons pushed back against local opposition, noting that many of the arrested individuals had final removal orders dating back decades but remained in the community. “ICE’s arrests prevent recidivism and make communities safer, but it feels like local politicians want to ignore that part and drum up discontent rather than protect their own constituents,” Lyons added.
Serious Criminal Histories
The list of those arrested includes individuals from Mexico, Laos, Somalia, Sudan, El Salvador, Guatemala, Burma, and Sierra Leone. Their criminal histories involve severe felonies ranging from homicide to sexual assault against minors.
Among the specific cases highlighted by the agency was Hernan Cortes-Valencia, a Mexican national with a removal order from 2016. Authorities say he has convictions for sexual assault against a child, carnal abuse, and four DUIs.
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The sweep also netted Sriudorn Phaivan, a Laotian national ordered removed in 2018. His criminal record is extensive, including convictions for the strongarm sodomy of both a boy and a girl, multiple counts of larceny, vehicle theft, and burglary.
Several individuals arrested had been convicted of taking a life. Gilberto Salguero Landaverde, a national of El Salvador, was apprehended with three homicide convictions on his record. Similarly, Mariama Sia Kanu of Sierra Leone was arrested with two homicide convictions and four DUIs.
Other notable arrests detailed in the report include:
- Ge Yang (Laos): Convicted of strongarm rape, aggravated assault with a weapon, and domestic violence involving strangulation.
- Chong Vue (Laos): Convicted of strongarm rape of a 12-year-old girl and kidnapping a child with intent to sexually assault.
- Gabriel Figueroa Gama (Mexico): Previously removed in 2002, he was convicted of homicide, battery, and assault.
- Abdirashid Adosh Elmi (Somalia): Convicted of homicide.
Federal officials indicated that protests and what they termed “violent rioters” attempted to interfere with the enforcement actions, though the operation proceeded despite the opposition.
ICE maintains that sanctuary policies in Minnesota act as a draw for criminal offenders seeking to evade deportation, a claim state leaders have historically disputed.
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