More Than 10,000 Illegal Immigrants Arrested in Minnesota: Noem

The arrests began on Dec. 1 as part of Operation Metro Surge, launched to apprehend illegal immigrants for removal from the country.

U.S. Border Patrol agents detain a man who failed to present citizenship documentation at a gas station in St. Paul, Minn., on Jan. 11, 2026. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced on Jan. 19 that more than 10,000 criminal illegal immigrants had been arrested by federal law enforcement officers during ongoing immigration-related operations in Minneapolis.

“We have arrested over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens who were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis,” Noem wrote on X. “In the last 6 weeks, our brave DHS law enforcement have arrested 3,000 criminal illegal aliens including vicious murderers, rapists, child pedophiles and incredibly dangerous individuals. A HUGE victory for public safety.”