Federal agents conducted an enforcement operation in Minneapolis this week, detaining several noncitizens whom DHS described as among the "worst of the worst." The arrests, part of Operation Metro Surge, included individuals with prior convictions for child sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence and drug trafficking. DHS urged state and city leaders to honor ICE detainers for more than 1,360 people currently held in Minnesota jails. The agency provided names and prior convictions for several arrestees as part of its update.
DHS: Convicted Child Sex Offenders, Sexual Predators and Drug Traffickers Arrested in Minneapolis Immigration Sweep
A federal agent of Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino's team during a stop at a gas station as immigration enforcement continues after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good Jan. 7, in Minneapolis Jan. 21, 2026.(Reuters)
Federal agents carried out a targeted enforcement operation in Minneapolis this week that led to the arrests of multiple noncitizens with prior criminal convictions, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said. The agency described some of those detained as among the "worst of the worst" and provided new details to Fox News Digital about individuals taken into custody within the last 24 hours.
The operation, part of what DHS officials called "Operation Metro Surge," followed a Friday news conference in Minneapolis where U.S. Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino discussed ongoing immigration enforcement activity in the city and emphasized the significance of recent field operations.
"DHS law enforcement continues to remove violent criminal illegal aliens from the streets of Minnesota. Just yesterday, they arrested pedophiles, sexual predators, and drug traffickers in Minnesota," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement, adding that many of the arrested individuals had previously been released from Minnesota jails.
McLaughlin also urged Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers for the more than 1,360 noncitizens currently held in Minnesota jails, according to DHS.
Arrestees Identified by DHS
DHS provided the following names and prior convictions for individuals detained during the operation on Thursday:
- Jose Eliborio Ocampo-Leon — From Mexico; previously convicted of criminal sexual conduct involving a victim under the age of 16.
- Rudy Alexander Pineda-Aguilar — From Guatemala; previously convicted of criminal sexual conduct.
- Gerardo Sanchez-Acuna — From Mexico; previously convicted of drug trafficking.
- Jeffrey Alexander Roman-Rabanales — From Guatemala; previously convicted of assault, domestic assault and damage to property.
- Salvador Salazar-Rivera — From Mexico; previously convicted of domestic assault and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse.
- Ayro Ariel Mimbrera-Fernandez — From Mexico; had an outstanding federal arrest warrant for amphetamine sale and prior convictions for theft and driving under the influence.
DHS characterized these arrests as part of its broader effort to identify and remove noncitizens convicted of violent and serious offenses. The agency provided the list to Fox News Digital as an update on enforcement connected to Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.
Note: The information above reflects DHS statements and the agency's characterization of the individuals and their prior convictions.
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