The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the arrests of multiple criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota as part of Operation Metro Surge, including individuals convicted of murder, drug trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious offenses.

In a press release issued January 16, DHS said the operation targeted what it described as the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens operating in Minnesota communities.

DHS said the operation resulted in the arrests of 12 criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota.

The Department contrasted the enforcement action with what it characterized as resistance from Minnesota state and local leadership, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to DHS, Minnesota “sanctuary politicians” have released nearly 470 criminal illegal aliens back into American communities since President Donald Trump took office. The Department also said it is calling on state and local officials to honor more than 1,360 ICE detainers, including for individuals with violent criminal histories currently in custody.

DHS said the arrests occurred as part of recent enforcement activity in Minneapolis.

“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,” said Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at DHS. “These are the criminals Governor Walz and Mayor Frey are protecting. No American wants these criminals for neighbors.”

Individuals Arrested During Operation Metro Surge

DHS identified the following criminal illegal aliens arrested in Minnesota:

  • Hien Quoc Thai, a criminal illegal alien from Vietnam, convicted of murder

  • Brian Anjain, a criminal illegal alien from the Marshall Islands with 24 convictions, including assault causing bodily injury, domestic abuse, theft, interference with official acts, public intoxication, trespassing, and public nudity

  • Pedro Lopez-Brito, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, convicted of assault with intent to inflict serious injury and possession of drugs, previously charged with aggravated battery

  • Yadrian Leyva Leyva, a criminal illegal alien from Cuba, convicted of larceny, forgery, identity theft, possession of tools for forgery or counterfeiting, and transportation of those tools

  • Eddy Xol-Lares, a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela, convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine while aboard a vessel

  • Hugo Ricardo Vicente Che Ba, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, convicted of domestic violence

  • Luis Angel Marquez Leal, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of disorderly conduct and previously charged with possession of narcotics equipment, possession of cocaine, and possession of a weapon

  • Martinus Dawid Kunneke, a criminal illegal alien from South Africa, convicted of violating a court-ordered restraining order, with previous charges including domestic violence, assault, possession of methamphetamine, and driving under the influence

  • Marlon Leiva-Orellana, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, convicted of property damage and three counts of driving under the influence, previously charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a stolen firearm, carrying a concealed gun, and resisting a public officer

  • Jose Daniel Valdez Garcia, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of fraud

  • Lujan Alejandro Lazaro Ortega, a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela, convicted of violation of a court order and previously charged with assault

  • Ionut Pedro Dumitru, a criminal illegal alien from Romania, charged with grand theft and contributing to the delinquency of a minor

DHS said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers continue daily enforcement actions aimed at removing violent criminal offenders from communities nationwide.

The arrests come amid an ongoing legal dispute between Minnesota officials and the Trump administration over Operation Metro Surge, which state and city leaders are seeking to halt through federal court action, previously reported by The Dallas Express.

DHS directs the public to wow.dhs.gov for additional information on arrests made under its “Worst of the Worst” initiative.