DHS says Minnesota officials released nearly 470 criminal noncitizens since President Trump took office

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Evidence from credible sources supports the statement as accurate. Learn more in Methodology.

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Verify state and local jail release records, ICE detainer records, or DHS/ICE data that document approximately 470 releases of people with ICE immigration holds since President Trump's administration began.

Source summary
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota led to arrests of people it described as "worst of the worst" criminal illegal aliens, including individuals accused of fraud, theft, drug trafficking and prostitution. DHS criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for refusing to cooperate with ICE and said nearly 470 alleged criminal noncitizens were released from custody since the president took office, while more than 1,360 detainers remain in state custody. The release names several arrested individuals and quotes Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin calling for local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Latest fact check

The Department of Homeland Security’s own press releases explicitly state that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have "released nearly 470 criminal illegal aliens" back onto the streets. A January 13, 2026 DHS release says, "Since President Trump took office, Governor Walz has refused to cooperate with ICE and released nearly 470 criminal illegal aliens back onto the streets of Minnesota," and continues, "Governor Walz and Mayor Frey REFUSE to cooperate with ICE law enforcement and have released nearly 470 criminal illegal aliens back onto the streets of Minneapolis." A subsequent January 14, 2026 DHS release reiterates that Walz and Frey "continue to refuse to cooperate" with ICE and "have released nearly 470 criminal illegal aliens back onto the streets of Minnesota since President Trump took office." The paraphrased claim that DHS says Walz and Frey have released nearly 470 criminal noncitizens back into communities since President Trump took office is therefore an accurate representation of DHS’s stated position.

The verdict is True because DHS’s official press releases explicitly make this claim, with the same approximate number, actors (Walz and Frey), and timeframe (since President Trump took office), even though they use the term "criminal illegal aliens" and "onto the streets" rather than "noncitizens" and "communities."

Timeline

  1. Update · Jan 16, 2026, 04:50 AMTrue
    The Department of Homeland Security’s own press releases explicitly state that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have "released nearly 470 criminal illegal aliens" back onto the streets. A January 13, 2026 DHS release says, "Since President Trump took office, Governor Walz has refused to cooperate with ICE and released nearly 470 criminal illegal aliens back onto the streets of Minnesota," and continues, "Governor Walz and Mayor Frey REFUSE to cooperate with ICE law enforcement and have released nearly 470 criminal illegal aliens back onto the streets of Minneapolis." A subsequent January 14, 2026 DHS release reiterates that Walz and Frey "continue to refuse to cooperate" with ICE and "have released nearly 470 criminal illegal aliens back onto the streets of Minnesota since President Trump took office." The paraphrased claim that DHS says Walz and Frey have released nearly 470 criminal noncitizens back into communities since President Trump took office is therefore an accurate representation of DHS’s stated position. The verdict is True because DHS’s official press releases explicitly make this claim, with the same approximate number, actors (Walz and Frey), and timeframe (since President Trump took office), even though they use the term "criminal illegal aliens" and "onto the streets" rather than "noncitizens" and "communities."
  2. Original article · Jan 15, 2026

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