Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on Tuesday accused the Department of Homeland Security of only targeting “law abiding citizens” in its ongoing enforcement surge in Minneapolis, a false claim that stands in direct conflict with DHS’s own published arrest data.
Omar’s comments came in response to a social media post by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who highlighted recent arrests as part of Operation Metro Surge.
“The only people on the streets of Minneapolis you are arresting are law abiding citizens,” Omar wrote, calling Noem’s messaging “full of lies and propaganda.” She also argued that photos of offenders shared by DHS were misleading because “they were already in prison.”
But a January 19 press release from DHS directly contradicts that characterization. According to the agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested more than 3,000 individuals in Minneapolis since early December, describing the targets as “the worst of the worst.”
The release lists multiple individuals with convictions for homicide, sexual assault, gang activity, and child exploitation. DHS states that these arrests occurred as part of “ongoing field operations” and were not limited to transfers from state custody.
Among the cases highlighted by DHS are Yang Koua Moua, convicted of homicide and identified as a gang member; Tze Thao, also convicted of homicide; and Blong Xiong, a registered sex offender convicted of sodomy of a 12‑year‑old girl. DHS also cited arrests of individuals with histories of aggravated assault, fraud, and narcotics offenses. These examples directly challenge Omar’s assertion that only law‑abiding residents are being taken into custody.
Additional reporting from NewsNation further complicates Omar’s claim. In a January 14 story, the outlet reported that ICE had recently arrested 13 individuals in Minneapolis identified as members of violent transnational gangs, including MS‑13, Paisas, and Oriental Boys. According to ICE Director Todd Lyons, the group included people with criminal histories involving homicide, sexual assault, and weapons offenses. The arrests were part of the same Operation Metro Surge initiative.
