On January 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said federal officers made multiple arrests in Minnesota as part of Operation Metro Surge, detaining individuals it described as some of the ‘worst of the worst.’ DHS named convicted pedophiles, sexual predators and drug traffickers among those taken into custody and called on state and city leaders to honor more than 1,360 detainers lodged against individuals in Minnesota jails. The department released a list of detainees and emphasized that arrests follow investigations into past criminal convictions and an outstanding federal warrant for one suspect. DHS also directed readers to its public list at wow.dhs.gov/Minnesota for additional details.
Key Takeaways
- Operation Metro Surge arrests in Minnesota occurred on January 22, 2026, according to a DHS press release.
- DHS listed nine named individuals charged or convicted for offenses including criminal sexual conduct against a minor, sexual assault, drug trafficking, domestic assault and theft.
- The department stated there are more than 1,360 detainers in Minnesota jails for noncitizen detainees and urged state/local officials to honor them.
- One person, Ayro Ariel Mimbrera-Fernandez, was described as subject to an outstanding federal arrest warrant for amphetamine sale in addition to state convictions for theft and DUI.
- DHS framed the operation as removing violent criminal noncitizens from Minnesota streets; the characterization and details are based on DHS records and its public list.
Background
Operation Metro Surge is a DHS law enforcement initiative that targets noncitizen individuals the agency classifies as criminal threats in metropolitan areas. The program deploys federal immigration and law-enforcement personnel to partner with local agencies and to execute arrests based on prior convictions, detainers, and, in some cases, federal warrants. Historically, DHS has used similar targeted operations to prioritize individuals with criminal records, focusing on offenses ranging from drug trafficking to sexual offenses.
The Jan. 22 action in Minnesota comes against a backdrop of ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local jurisdictions over the use of detainers and cooperation. State and municipal leaders in several jurisdictions have at times limited compliance with federal detainers, citing local policy or concerns about community trust; DHS officials say such limits can allow some noncitizen offenders to be released. Stakeholders include DHS and its law-enforcement components, Minnesota state officials, city leadership in Minneapolis, and advocacy groups that monitor immigration enforcement practices.
Main Event
DHS announced that, during the January 22 operation in Minnesota, federal officers arrested several individuals it identified as convicted criminals or as having outstanding federal charges. The agency provided a roster of nine named people, each listed with nationality and the conviction or charge DHS cited. The arrests were presented as the result of investigations and operational coordination under Operation Metro Surge.
The department’s statement singled out convictions such as criminal sexual conduct involving a victim under the age of 16 for Jose Eliborio Ocampo-Leon and drug trafficking for Gerardo Sanchez-Acuna. Other listed names included individuals convicted of assault, domestic violence, theft, and DUI-related offenses, and one person with a federal warrant for amphetamine sale. DHS said some arrestees had previously been held in Minnesota jails and that detainers had been filed.
DHS characterized the operation as removing ‘violent criminal illegal aliens’ from public streets. The agency also called on Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to honor detainers for the more than 1,360 noncitizen detainees DHS says are currently subject to detainers in Minnesota jails. DHS encouraged public review of the full roster at wow.dhs.gov/Minnesota for verification of individual case details.
Analysis & Implications
From a policy perspective, DHS’s announcement reinforces the agency’s prioritization of noncitizen individuals with criminal convictions. Federal enforcement actions like Operation Metro Surge aim to reduce recidivism risk as defined by DHS criteria, but they also intensify debates over local-federal cooperation. Cities that restrict compliance with federal detainers argue those policies protect community policing relationships; DHS contends such restrictions can hinder removal of individuals it deems dangerous.
The public naming of alleged offenders can influence local politics and public opinion. For state and city officials, the DHS release creates pressure to respond to calls for honoring detainers, even while balancing local public-safety strategies and legal limits on cooperation. Legal advocates may challenge detainer reliance or pursue review of individual cases; courts have in the past scrutinized the legal basis and execution of civil immigration detainers.
Operationally, the arrests may produce short-term reductions in the presence of individuals with specified convictions, but long-term effects depend on prosecution, detention capacity, and subsequent immigration proceedings. DHS stated one suspect had an outstanding federal warrant, which typically leads to federal criminal processing; other cases may move through immigration-removal channels that can take months or longer. The intersection of criminal and immigration systems makes outcomes variable and case-specific.
Comparison & Data
| Name | Nationality | Conviction/Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Jose Eliborio Ocampo-Leon | Mexico | Criminal sexual conduct — victim under 16 |
| Rudy Alexander Pineda-Aguilar | Guatemala | Criminal sexual conduct |
| Gerardo Sanchez-Acuna | (not stated) | Drug trafficking |
| Jeffrey Alexander Roman-Rabanales | Guatemala | Assault, domestic assault, damage to property |
| Salvador Salazar-Rivera | Mexico | Domestic assault; inflict corporal injury on spouse |
| Ayro Ariel Mimbrera-Fernandez | Mexico | Federal warrant for amphetamine sale; convicted theft, DWI |
| Maria Fernanda Velasco-Hurtado | Ecuador | Theft |
| Lleymi Sanchez-Valenzuela | Mexico | Theft |
This roster mirrors the DHS press release listing nine named individuals with convictions or a federal warrant. The department highlighted more than 1,360 detainers in Minnesota jails as a broader metric; that total is a DHS figure and reflects detainers filed across multiple facilities. Readers should note the distinction between a listed conviction and any pending federal immigration process, which can follow separate legal paths.
Reactions & Quotes
“DHS law enforcement continues to remove violent criminal illegal aliens from the streets of Minnesota.”
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, DHS
In its release, DHS framed the arrests as public-safety actions and urged state and municipal officials to cooperate on detainer requests. The department also described operational risks faced by officers during arrests.
“Our officers continue to put their lives on the line to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.”
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, DHS
That second short quote, also from Assistant Secretary McLaughlin, reiterates DHS’s emphasis on officer safety and the seriousness with which the agency portrays the targeted population. Minnesota state and city officials had not provided a formal response in the DHS release; any reaction from those offices should be checked directly with state or municipal communications.
Unconfirmed
- DHS’s characterization that all named arrestees are ‘violent’ is its operational assessment; independent court records or local agencies may classify offenses differently.
- The press release states many listed individuals ‘were released from Minnesota jails’ prior to federal action; independent confirmation of release timings and reasons is not provided in the DHS statement.
- Any broader claim about an immediate public-safety impact across Minnesota communities following these arrests is not independently verified by DHS in the release.
Bottom Line
The DHS announcement on January 22, 2026, publicizes arrests in Minnesota of several noncitizen individuals with prior convictions or an outstanding federal warrant and frames the action as part of Operation Metro Surge to remove serious offenders. The release names specific individuals and cites more than 1,360 detainers in Minnesota jails as context for the effort.
Readers should view the DHS roster as the agency’s account; independent verification through court records, local jail logs, or state and municipal statements will be necessary to confirm release histories, the precise legal status of each person, and subsequent legal outcomes. The episode highlights ongoing tension over detainer practices and federal-local cooperation in immigration enforcement.