Federal officials say they arrested the “worst of the worst” undocumented immigrants during a law enforcement operation in Minneapolis this week.
On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the arrests of 12 people with varying levels of criminal history.
The dozen people are from Somalia, Mexico and El Salvador, according to DHS. Federal officials say eight of them have been charged or convicted of crimes, including DUI, criminal sexual conduct, domestic violence, and assault, but didn’t specify when or where.
A search of Minnesota court case records showed 11 convictions between three of the men, with seven of those convictions occurring over a decade ago.
There are no publicly available records for the others, although it is possible they were charged or convicted in another state.
The men that DHS officials say have previous convictions were named as:
- Abdulkadir Sharif Abdi
- Sahal Osman Shidane
- Mukthar Mohamed Ali
- Ahmed Mohamed Said
- Rudy Arendondo Jarillo
- Alberto Gallardo-Montiel
- Ismael Bonilla Avalos
- Feisal Mohamed-Omar
Four of the arrestees had no listed criminal history. Their names and reasons for arrest are below.
- Alvaro Davila Alanis was arrested for aggravated assault with a weapon.
- Oscar David Ayala-Ocampo was arrested for domestic violence.
- Ismael Higuera Chupin was arrested for driving under the influence.
- Carlos Mark Boquin-Alfaro was arrested for domestic violence.
“Sanctuary policies and politicians like Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey allowed these pedophiles, domestic terrorists, and gang members to roam the streets and terrorize Americans,” said Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “ICE law enforcement are risking their lives to protect Minnesotans while their own elected officials sit by and do nothing. No matter when and where, ICE will find, arrest, and deport ALL criminal illegal aliens.”
Feisal Mohamed-Omar (Credit: Homeland Security)Ismael Higuera Chupin (Credit: Homeland Security)Mukthar Mohamed Ali (Credit: Homeland Security)Rudy Arendondo Jarillo (Credit: Homeland Security)Sahal Osman Shidane (Credit: Homeland Security)Alberto Gallardo-Montiel (Credit: Homeland Security)Abdulkadir Sharif Abdi (Credit: Homeland Security)Alvaro Davila Alanis (Credit: Homeland Security)Ahmed Mohamed Said (Credit: Homeland Security)Ismael Bonilla Avalos (Credit: Homeland Security)Oscar David Ayala-Ocampo (Credit: Homeland Security)Carlos Mark Boquin-Alfaro (Credit: Homeland Security)
Apple Valley mom detained
Apple Valley man whose wife has been detained by ICE speaks to KSTP
“We’re trying to do whatever we can,” a man named Abdul, who doesn’t want to share his last name, quietly told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on Thursday.
The Apple Valley father-of-three spoke with reporter Richard Reeve outside the Whipple Federal Building near Fort Snelling, where his wife is being held in ICE custody.
“I’m an American citizen, all her children are American citizens,” Abdul said. “She was working for over 20 years in the area, especially with refugee settlement. She never had any crime.”
He says his wife was driving on Thursday to pick up her 11-year-old son at school, after the boy complained about not feeling well.
The woman says she was driving along Highway 77 when she was blocked in by several unmarked SUVs, and that one of the people detaining her said he had a warrant and that she was under arrest.
Steven Thal, her attorney, says that many years ago, an immigration judge granted the 45-year-old mother “withholding of removal,” which means she can’t be deported back to her native Somalia.
He says he’s still working to learn why his client was picked up by ICE agents.
“She’s able to live and work here in the United States,” Thal notes. “She’s paid her taxes, she’s filed for work permits, she’s stayed out of trouble.”
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS checked and was unable to find any criminal prosecution or conviction for the woman.
Thal says she’s being transferred to the Crow Wing County Jail.
He says he plans to file for a bond hearing before an immigration judge as early as Friday and possibly may file a writ of habeas corpus petition before a federal judge, challenging the legality of the woman’s detention.
Abdul says he’s not sure what’s next.
“Something like that, it’s not fair,” he says. “That’s not the America that we know. It’s not the America where we choose to live.”
