President Trump praised the work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents Tuesday, showcasing the results of a year-long campaign to remove dangerous criminals living in the United States illegally. At a White House briefing, the president displayed mugshots of individuals arrested in Minnesota, describing them as the “worst of the worst” among thousands apprehended in the past year.
“These are all from one state — out of many,” Trump said, emphasizing that many of the individuals had convictions for serious crimes. “Many of them are murderers … do you want to live with these people?” He highlighted specific cases, including Abdirashid Adosh Elmi, a Somali national convicted of homicide, and Aldrin Guerrero-Munoz, charged with the intentional killing of his three-month-old son.
According to the administration, ICE has arrested roughly 10,000 individuals in Minnesota alone since Inauguration Day. President Trump noted that similar operations are ongoing nationwide, with tens of thousands of arrests aimed at gang members and other criminal offenders.
“All ICE wants to do is get them out of our country. Bring them to prisons, jails, and mental institutions from where they came. That’s all they want to do. They’re patriots,” the president said, criticizing previous administrations for policies that allowed such individuals to enter or remain in the country.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin added, “When we say we are targeting the worst of the worst, this is exactly what we mean. Many of these individuals should have never been allowed into the U.S. under prior administrations. They have committed serious crimes, and under President Trump’s leadership, ICE is working to remove them and keep communities safe.”
Operation Metro Surge, launched shortly after Thanksgiving, has seen more than 3,000 immigration agents deployed across Minnesota. The initiative has led to the arrest of approximately 3,000 criminal illegal aliens, including gang members affiliated with the Crips, Bloods, MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Latin Kings, and others.
Some notable cases highlighted by ICE include:
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Vicente Paul Carreno-Aular, a Venezuelan national and Tren de Aragua member with convictions for homicide, assault, child abuse, domestic violence, and property damage. He entered the U.S. in 2022 and was removed in September 2025.
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Kevin Elenilson Avalos Diaz, a Salvadoran national and known MS-13 associate, previously convicted of homicide and kidnapping. He was arrested in January 2025.
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Nester Fabian Londono, a Colombian national linked to the Latin Kings, with past convictions for homicide, manslaughter, heroin smuggling, and DUI. He was arrested in December 2025.
Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino defended the agency’s tactics, saying, “Our operations are lawful, targeted, and focused on individuals who pose serious threats. They are not random, and they are not political.” He also criticized Minnesota officials, including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, for what he called “a difficult operating environment” due to their vocal opposition to ICE operations.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described the arrests as a “huge victory for public safety,” emphasizing the administration’s focus on removing violent offenders and gang members from communities nationwide.