A small private college in Minneapolis has found itself embroiled in controversy following accusations from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that its staff obstructed an ICE operation. The department claims that the college staff acted to protect a student who is reportedly both an illegal immigrant and a registered sex offender.

On Monday evening, in response to local media coverage, DHS took to the platform X to announce that ICE agents had apprehended Jesus Saucedo-Portillo. Described by the department as a criminal illegal immigrant, Saucedo-Portillo is also noted to have a prior conviction for driving under the influence.

The arrest faced challenges when a college administrator, along with campus security, allegedly attempted to interfere with the ICE agents’ efforts to detain the student.

Saucedo-Portillo is currently enrolled as an undergraduate at Augsburg University, located in Minneapolis.

An image of Jesus Saucedo-Portillo, identified by DHS as an illegal immigrant with prior legal offences, including sex offender registration and a DUI conviction, was shared on December 8, 2025. (Department of Homeland Security)

The DHS statement detailed that its officers informed the college administrator and campus security of an arrest warrant for Saucedo-Portillo. The administrator reportedly argued that the officers were breaching university policies. The officers, however, clarified that federal law takes precedence over university regulations and warned that hindering the law enforcement vehicle’s movement could amount to obstructing justice.

Despite the warning, the administrator refused to back down and ordered campus security to block the ICE vehicle, according to DHS.

A busy Augsburg College campus showing fall colors on Oct. 29, 2003.  (David Brewster/Star Tribune via Getty Images)

“Our officers followed their training to use the minimum amount of force necessary to clear the area and successfully arrested this criminal illegal alien,” the statement finished.

In an interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow corroborated that Saucedo-Portillo is a student, and claimed that the arrest was “illegal” and that ICE did not have a warrant.

He also said ICE agents drew their weapons on a group of staff and students who had gathered near the incident. The students then called campus security, which “set off a protocol for when ICE is on campus.”

He also praised students who participated in the anti-ICE action.

Voters fill out their ballots in a polling place at Augsburg University on Nov. 3, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

“We’re proud of [students] for the fact that they did that, despite the kind of hectic and traumatic nature of the event itself,” Pribbenow told the news outlet.

He also reportedly said that no staff or students violated the code of conduct at the Evangelical Lutheran affiliated school.

Augsburg officials did not return multiple requests for comment.