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“Regardless of staged political theatrics, ICE is going to continue to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota and elsewhere,” ICE Director Todd M. Lyons said in a statement.
Lyons noted that some of the offenders had long been ordered removed but were allowed to stay nonetheless, putting American families at risk.
“Some of these criminal aliens have had final orders of removal for 30 years, but they’ve been free to terrorize Minnesotans,” Lyons said.
He added that the agency’s mission is straightforward — stop repeat offenses and protect the public — even if political leaders refuse to acknowledge the results.
“ICE’s arrests prevent recidivism and make communities safer, but it feels like local politicians want to ignore that part and drum up discontent rather than protect their own constituents,” Lyons said.
The arrests also drew praise from the White House. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the announcement with a post on X, highlighting the dangers ICE agents face and the importance of their work.
“This is why we have ICE Agents,” Leavitt wrote. “May God bless them for their thankless work to protect American communities from these sick people.”
Among those arrested was Sriudorn Phaivan, a Laotian national with an extensive criminal record. ICE said Phaivan was convicted of strong-arm sodomy of a boy and a girl, aggravated sexual offenses, burglary, fraud, vehicle theft, drug possession, and numerous other crimes. Despite having a final order of removal since 2018, he remained in the U.S. and now faces additional pending charges, including burglary and flight to avoid prosecution.
Tou Vang, another Laotian national, was convicted of sexually assaulting and sodomizing a girl under the age of 13, as well as procuring a child for prostitution. ICE reported that Vang has had a deportation order on file since 2006.
Chong Vue, also from Laos, was convicted of the strong-arm rape of a 12-year-old girl and kidnapping a child with the intent to sexually assault her. ICE said Vue’s final removal order dates back to 2004.
Additional arrests included Ge Yang, a Laotian national convicted of strong-arm rape, aggravated assault with a weapon, and strangulation. Yang has been under a deportation order since 2012. Pao Choua Xiong, another Laotian national, was convicted of rape and child fondling and has had a removal order since 2003. Kou Lor, also from Laos, was convicted of rape, rape with a weapon, and sexual assault, with a deportation order issued as far back as 1996.
ICE also arrested Hernan Cortes-Valencia, a Mexican national convicted of sexually assaulting a child and driving under the influence. According to the agency, he has had a final order of removal since 2016.
The list further included multiple individuals convicted of homicide. Abdirashid Adosh Elmi, a Somalian national, was convicted of homicide. Gilberto Salguero Landaverde, a Salvadoran national, was convicted of three counts of homicide and received a deportation order in June 2025. Gabriel Figueroa Gama, a Mexican national, was convicted of homicide and had previously been deported in 2002.
Thai Lor, a Laotian national, was convicted of two counts of homicide and has had a deportation order since 2009. Mariana Sia Kanu, an illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone, was convicted of two counts of homicide and has had a final order of removal since 2022.
ICE said several others taken into custody were convicted of manslaughter, attempted homicide, and negligent homicide involving vehicles.
Officials said the Minnesota operation underscores the consequences of failed enforcement policies and sanctuary-style resistance to federal immigration law. According to ICE, these arrests are part of a nationwide push to prioritize the removal of violent offenders and individuals who pose a direct threat to public safety — a mission the agency says it will continue regardless of political pressure.
