DHS highlights Jan. 12 ICE arrests of convicted child‑sex offender, violent felons
DHS highlighted a Jan. 12 ICE roundup that included the arrest of a convicted child‑sex offender and several violent felons, saying ICE now has more than 1,360 active detainers lodged against "criminal illegal aliens" in Minnesota jails. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem accused Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of refusing to honor detainers and claimed federal agents have arrested "over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens" in Minneapolis in recent months. Frey countered on CBS' Face the Nation that the federal surge is "not about safety" but about "terrorizing" Latino and Somali communities, and separate reporting noted ICE also detained a Libyan man in Minnesota who had come for treatment of a rare skin condition.
📌 Key Facts
- Kristi Noem claimed federal agents have arrested "over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens" in Minneapolis in recent months.
- DHS publicly stated ICE currently has more than 1,360 active arrest detainers lodged against "criminal illegal aliens" in Minnesota jails and urged Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey to honor those detainers.
- Noem posted on X accusing Walz and Frey of "refus[ing] to protect their own people" and of "protect[ing] criminals," language described as an escalation beyond prior DHS summaries of specific arrests.
- Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, on CBS' Face the Nation, said the federal surge is "not about safety" but about "terrorizing people" because they are Latino or Somali.
- The comments and detainer figures have intensified a political dispute between officials pushing for federal immigration enforcement and Minnesota leaders who criticize the federal operations.
📊 Relevant Data
Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the United States, with approximately 107,000 people of Somali descent in 2024, representing about 2% of the state's total population.
By the numbers: Minnesota's Somali population, according to Census data — KTTC
In Minneapolis, there are about 33,521 people of Somali descent as of 2025 estimates.
Trump targeting Somali community: How many Somalis live in Minneapolis? — FOX9
Most Somalis in Minnesota arrived as refugees from refugee camps due to the civil war in Somalia, with about one-third coming directly from camps.
Immigration in MN Africa — IATP
Somali Minnesotans generate at least $500 million in income annually and pay about $67 million in state and local taxes.
Somali Minnesotans drive economic growth, pay $67M taxes annually — KSTP
The Feeding Our Future fraud scheme involved over 78 defendants charged with defrauding a federal child nutrition program of $250 million, with many connected to the Somali community in Minnesota.
78th Defendant Charged in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme — U.S. Department of Justice
As of January 2026, 73% of people detained by ICE nationwide have no criminal convictions, and only 5% have violent convictions.
5% of People Detained By ICE Have Violent Convictions, 73% No Convictions — CATO Institute
From 2020 to 2024, over 81,000 new immigrants moved to Minnesota, making immigration the primary driver of population change.
Immigration became the leading component of population growth in Minnesota this decade — Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Among Somalis in Minnesota, the proportion of non-citizens decreased from over 76% in 2001 to 9% in 2023.
Most Somali people in America and Minnesota are citizens — Minnesota Reformer
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem now claims federal agents have arrested 'over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens' in Minneapolis in recent months.
- DHS publicly states that ICE currently has more than 1,360 active arrest detainers lodged against 'criminal illegal aliens' in Minnesota jails and urges Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey to honor them.
- Noem directly accuses Walz and Frey of 'refus[ing] to protect their own people' and 'protect[ing] criminals' in a new X post, escalating rhetoric beyond prior DHS summaries of specific arrests.
- Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, in a CBS 'Face the Nation' appearance, responds that the federal surge is 'not about safety' but about 'terrorizing people' because they are Latino or Somali.