DHS tells Walz, Frey to honor ICE detainers after nearly 470 criminal aliens released

FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is demanding that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey honor federal immigration detainees for the more than 1,300 criminal illegal aliens in the state’s custody after hundreds were allegedly released back onto the streets.

According to DHS Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, both Walz and Frey “refuse” to cooperate with federal immigration officials; He accuses the duo of releasing approximately 470 criminal, illegal aliens back onto the streets of Minneapolis.

“We call on Walz and Frey to stop this dangerous policy and commit to honoring ICE detention detainees for the more than 1,360 illegal criminals held in Minnesota custody,” McLaughlin said. “This is common sense. Criminal, illegal aliens should not be released onto our streets to terrorize more innocent Americans.”

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Last week, Frey told Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to “get the hell out” of his city, while Walz similarly told the Trump administration to “leave Minnesota alone” after Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Mayor Frey also issued an executive order banning federal agents from using city property to conduct operations, and a city separation ordinance was recently supported by local Minneapolis officials to protect illegal immigrants.

Meanwhile, in February of last year, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a formal opinion arguing that state law prohibits state and local law enforcement from detaining someone in ICE-only civilian custody.

The consequences of disobeying ICE detainees were felt harshly in a Northern Virginia county last year after an illegal immigrant accompanied by a detainee was released from custody and killed someone a day later.

Marvin Morales-Ortez, who was in the country illegally, was released from Fairfax County custody on Tuesday and allegedly committed a murder the next day. (Fairfax County Police Department/Getty Images)

But Walz’s office told Fox News Digital that DHS’s accusations are “categorically false” and maintained that the state’s Department of Corrections “honors all federal and local detainees,” including those from ICE.

“It always has been,” a Walz spokesman said. “We also notify ICE of the expected release date so they can arrange for transfer from DOC custody if they wish.”

The spokesperson noted that there are times when “a person in DOC custody is subject to multiple detentions or detentions,” but noted that “if they are released to an agency other than ICE, the ICE detainer remains active and DOC ensures that the receiving agency is notified of the ICE detention.” They added that ICE is also responsible for arranging the pick-up of detainees, saying that with each transfer it makes, the Minnesota Department of Corrections “verifies transportation and transfer arrangements to ensure the release is safe, secure and coordinated.”

There are currently 207 people in an ICE detainee in the Minnesota prison system, according to Walz’s office.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks at a news conference following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on Friday, January 9, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

According to Vice Mayor J.D. Vance, thousands of federal immigration officials were dispatched to the Twin Cities to assist in deportation efforts; More will come and plans to begin door-to-door operations will also be made.

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Since Saturday, ICE officials have released several examples of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens arrested during a surge in deportation operations in Minnesota. Child predators, people accused of murder and drug traffickers are among those on DHS’s list.

Leny Odemel Ramirez-Santos, an illegal alien from Honduras charged with sexual crimes against a child and driving under the influence; Edwin Amable Ashca Ninasuta, an illegal alien from Ecuador accused of sexual intercourse with a minor; Lenda Neh Mama Epse George, an illegal alien from Cameroon accused of cruelty to a child and domestic violence; German Adriano Llangari Inga, an illegal alien from Ecuador accused of murder; Puol Both, an illegal alien from Sudan who was convicted of making terroristic threats and committing multiple thefts; and Somsalao Thonesavanh, an illegal alien from Laos convicted of drug trafficking and selling synthetic narcotics, are among the “worst of the worst” shared by DHS on Monday.

The Trump administration’s Homeland Security branch reveals some of this week’s “worst to worst” criminal illegal aliens arrested by federal immigration officials in Minnesota. (Department of Homeland Security (DHS))

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Over the weekend, DHS shared that nearly a dozen violators convicted of killing someone in Minnesota were also arrested in Minneapolis. Many of these individuals had previously been ordered deported but remained in the country.

Fox News’ Alexandra Koch and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.