In a significant development, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday the arrest of several criminal illegal immigrants during an operation in Minnesota. This initiative, labeled Operation Metro Surge, led to the capture of what DHS describes as the “worst of the worst,” including an individual with 24 criminal convictions.

The DHS took the opportunity to criticize state and local authorities for their lack of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The agency specifically called out Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for their policies that allegedly hinder Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. According to DHS, these policies have resulted in the release of hundreds of criminal illegal aliens into Minnesota communities.

“Our law enforcement officers, who are already facing significant challenges, managed to arrest individuals involved in serious crimes such as murder and drug trafficking, including an illegal immigrant with a staggering 24 criminal convictions,” stated Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary. She further accused Governor Walz and Mayor Frey of protecting these criminals, suggesting that no American would want them as neighbors.

As part of Operation Metro Surge, DHS apprehended more criminal illegal aliens on Thursday, identifying 13 individuals in a release shared initially with Fox News. The arrests highlight the ongoing tension between federal immigration authorities and sanctuary jurisdictions, where local policies often clash with federal enforcement efforts.

“As our law enforcement are facing rampant violence against them, they arrested murderers, drug traffickers and an illegal with 24 criminal convictions in Minneapolis,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. “These are the criminals Governor [Tim] Walz and Mayor [Jacob] Frey are protecting. No American wants these criminals for neighbors.”

DHS arrested more illegal criminal aliens Thursday during Operation Metro Surge, identifying 13 of them in a release first shared with Fox News. (DHS and Getty Images)

DHS said the arrests were made as part of Operation Metro Surge, a targeted enforcement effort focused on removing criminal illegal aliens from Minnesota neighborhoods. The department said the operation prioritizes offenders with serious criminal histories, including violent crimes.

According to DHS, criminals arrested in the state during the operation include Hien Quoc Thai, a Vietnamese national who was previously convicted of murder.

Brian Anjain from the Marshall Islands has 24 criminal convictions, including assault causing bodily injury, domestic abuse, public nudity, theft, interference with official acts, public intoxication and trespassing, DHS said.

Hien Quoc Thai of Vietnam was previously convicted of murder, according to DHS. (Department of Homeland Security)

Eddy Xol-Lares of Venezuela was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine while aboard a vessel.

Those arrested also include criminal illegal immigrants from Guatemala, Cuba, Mexico, Honduras, South Africa and Romania, according to DHS.

DHS said the operation also resulted in the arrests of people convicted of crimes including domestic violence, assault, fraud, identity theft, forgery, restraining order violations, property damage and multiple drunken driving offenses, with several facing prior charges involving kidnapping, robbery with deadly weapons, gun possession and narcotics offenses.

Brian Anjain from the Marshall Islands has 24 convictions, including assault causing bodily injury, domestic abuse, public nudity, theft, interference with official acts, public intoxication and trespassing, according to DHS. (Department of Homeland Security)

The department claims that since President Donald Trump took office, nearly 470 criminal illegal immigrants have been released back into Minnesota communities due to sanctuary-style policies.

DHS also said it is urging Walz and Frey to honor ICE detainers for more than 1,360 aliens, including violent criminals currently in custody, arguing that cooperation would improve public safety.

Additional information about those arrested nationwide is available through the agency’s public-facing database at wow.dhs.gov, which tracks enforcement actions involving serious offenders.