The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the results of Operation Metro Surge, reporting the arrest of several individuals described as "worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens" in Minnesota. The operation led to the detention of people with serious criminal records, including convictions for murder, drug trafficking, and violent offenses.
DHS stated that these arrests contrast with the policies of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who have not cooperated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to DHS, since President Trump took office, local sanctuary policies have resulted in nearly 470 criminal illegal aliens being released back into communities.
The department also noted that ICE continues to remove individuals they consider dangerous from Minnesota every day. DHS called on state and city officials to honor ICE detainers for more than 1,360 individuals currently in custody, many of whom are accused or convicted of violent crimes.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin commented on the arrests: “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. These are the criminals Governor Walz and Mayor Frey are protecting. No American wants these criminals for neighbors.”
Among those arrested were Hien Quoc Thai from Vietnam, convicted of murder; Brian Anjain from the Marshall Islands with 24 convictions including assault and domestic abuse; Pedro Lopez-Brito from Guatemala, convicted of assault and drug possession; Yadrian Leyva Leyva from Cuba for larceny and forgery-related offenses; Eddy Xol-Lares from Venezuela for conspiracy to distribute cocaine; Hugo Ricardo Vicente Che Ba from Guatemala for domestic violence; Luis Angel Marquez Leal from Mexico for disorderly conduct; Martinus Dawid Kunneke from South Africa for violating a restraining order; Marlon Leiva-Orellana from Honduras for property damage and DUI; Jose Daniel Valdez Garcia from Mexico for fraud; Lujan Alejandro Lazaro Ortega from Venezuela for violation of a court order; and Ionut Pedro Dumitru from Romania charged with grand theft.
DHS has made further information about recent arrests available on their website wow.dhs.gov.
