The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) is once again compelled to correct the record following more U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statements and press releases that share inaccurate information about Minnesota’s cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers and conflate state prison operations with county jail and federal enforcement activity. DHS’s repeated public claims are, at best, the result of a fundamental misunderstanding of Minnesota’s correctional system; at minimum, reflect operational incompetence; and at worst, amount to deliberate propaganda designed to inflame public fear rather than inform it.

DHS claims that “ICE has more than 1,360 arrest detainers for the criminal illegal aliens in their custody,” yet has provided no methodology, jurisdictional breakdown, or time frame explaining how they arrived at this number. Minnesota calls on DHS to explain its data sources and to ensure that any “Worst of the Worst” lists accurately reflect verifiable Minnesota criminal histories and DOC custody status.

Minnesota’s prison system honors all ICE detainers, without exception. Minnesota law requires DOC to notify ICE when a person committed to DOC custody is not a U.S. citizen; as a matter of policy, DOC also honors all ICE detainers and coordinates transfers when ICE requests pickup. ICE alone determines whether to place a detainer and is responsible for arranging custody transfer.

As outlined in our January 15 release, DOC’s statewide records reflect that Minnesota’s prison population includes a small number of non-U.S. citizens, and when ICE detainers are lodged, DOC coordinates release with ICE. Below is factual information on cases recently highlighted by DHS. Minnesota will continue to correct the record for as long as DHS persists in distributing false information.

Key Clarifications

DHS has not identified a single instance where DOC released someone in violation of an ICE detainer.

DHS’s ‘Worst of the Worst’ lists include numerous individuals with no Minnesota prison custody and, in many cases, no Minnesota criminal record.

County jails are separate systems – independent of state prisons – with populations that fluctuate daily; DHS statements frequently conflate county jail holds, ICE custody, and state prison operations.

Media Fact Supplement: Minnesota Records Review of Individuals Named in DHS Press Releases

Note: Where “No Minnesota records” is indicated, DOC could not locate Minnesota court records or DOC custody for the individual as named. Some entries reflect similar names that do not match DHS-provided mugshots or identifiers.

Individuals named in DHS releases (in alphabetical order)

BRIAN ANJAIN (DHS Press Release, 01/16/2026)
DOC notes: No Minnesota records.

VICTOR JAVIER BAHENA-SANDOVAL (DHS Press Release, 01/14/2026)
DOC notes: No DOC commitment found. Old misdemeanor case found for an individual with the name Victor Javier Bah Sandoval.

JORGE CORDOSO-LUNA (DHS Press Release, 01/19/2026)
DOC notes: DOC records list “Jorge Cardoso Luna” with ICE detainer. Planning notes indicated release to INS, with contingency re-entry plan; 1989 plan notes INS agent intended to meet upon release.

IONUT PEDRO DUMITRU (DOB 10/21/1991) (DHS Press Release, 01/16/2026)
DOC notes: No record in COMS; found Minnesota petty misdemeanor (seatbelt).

JOSHUA FORNOH (DHS Press Release, 01/13/2026)
DOC notes: Released to ICE on 1/12/26.

MARIO YUBANY FUENTES-SANCHEZ (DHS Press Release, 01/12/2026)
DOC notes: No record of DOC custody.

PEDRO GARCIA-BRAVO (DHS Press Release, 01/19/2026)
DOC notes: No DOC custody records found.

IGNACIO GONZALEZ-DELA ROSA (DHS Press Release, 01/12/2026)
DOC notes: No record of DOC custody.

JUAN GONZALEZ-ESCAMILLA (DOB 11/10/1971) (DHS Press Release, 01/15/2026)
DOC notes: No. Minnesota court record shows Ramsey County gross misdemeanor, 2nd-degree DWI; active warrant since 2011.

ARNOLDO JOSE HERNANDEZ-PEREZ (DHS Press Release, 01/19/2026)
DOC notes: No Minnesota records.

MARTINUS DAWID KUNNEKE (DOB 10/02/1990) (DHS Press Release, 01/16/2026)
DOC notes: Located Minnesota court record with two petty misdemeanors for an individual with the same name; DHS indicates he is from South Africa.

LUJAN ALEJANDRO LAZARO ORTEGA (DHS Press Release, 01/16/2026)
DOC notes: No Minnesota records.

YADRIAN LEYVA LEYVA (DHS Press Release, 01/16/2026)
DOC notes: No Minnesota records.

MARLON LEIVA-ORELLANA (DHS Press Release, 01/16/2026)
DOC notes: DHS notes convictions (property damage; multiple DUIs) and prior charges (robbery, kidnapping, weapons); no Minnesota records.

YING LI (DOB 03/31/1958) (DHS Press Release, 01/15/2026)
DOC notes: No Minnesota records.

PEDRO LOPEZ-BRITO (DHS Press Release, 01/16/2026)
DOC notes: No Minnesota records.

EVER JOEL LOPEZ DEL CID (DHS Press Release, 01/12/2026)
DOC notes: No record of DOC custody.

LUIS ANGEL MARQUEZ LEAL (DHS Press Release, 01/16/2026)
DOC notes: No Minnesota records.

MOHAMUD FARAH MOHAMED (DHS Press Release, 01/12/2026)
DOC notes: No record of DOC custody.

FADHILY ABUBAKARI MSHIHIRI (DHS Press Release, 01/15/2026)
DOC notes: No Minnesota records.

DETH OUDONE PHAENGSY (DHS Press Release, 01/19/2026)
DOC notes: Records for “Dethoudone Phaengsy”; released to ICE on 9/19/2022.

ANSAR ABDULLAHI SAMATAR (DHS Press Release, 01/12/2026)
DOC notes: Not in DOC custody records.

DANNY YASMANI SUARES-MUNOZ (DHS Press Release, 01/12/2026)
DOC notes: Not in DOC custody records.

JAI VANG (DHS Press Release, 01/13/2026)
DOC notes: An individual with this name was released from DOC on 3/13/1997 with a release to INS documented.

JOSE DANIEL VALDEZ GARCIA (DHS Press Release, 01/16/2026)
DOC notes: No Minnesota records.

SILVANO LUN VELASCO (DHS Press Release, 01/19/2026)
DOC notes: Not in DOC custody. Court records reflect a Minnesota misdemeanor conviction for an individual with the same name.

HUGO RICARDO VICENTE CHE BA (DHS Press Release, 01/16/2026)
DOC notes: No Minnesota records.

HIEN QUOC THAI (DHS Press Release, 01/16/2026)
DOC notes: No Minnesota records.

KHIN ZAW THAN (DOB 06/04/1993) (DHS Press Release, 01/15/2026)
DOC notes: Minnesota court history includes: stay of imposition on a felony (Dakota County, 19HA-CR-21-220); stay of execution of sentence on a felony (Ramsey County, 62-CR-22-6758); open Washington County felony case (catalytic converter theft, 82-CR-25-5615).

JUAN PABLO TORRES CHEME (DOB 02/03/1999) (DHS Press Release, 01/15/2026)
DOC notes: No Minnesota records.

TZE THAO (DHS Press Release, 01/19/2026)
DOC notes: ICE detainer received 03/16/2007; released to ICE 7/10/2017.

JONATHAN PAUL YUQUILEMA-GANAN (DHS Press Release, 01/19/2026)
DOC notes: No DOC custody records found.

PAO XIONG (DHS Press Release, 01/19/2026)
DOC notes: Released to ICE on 11/17/2025.

BLONG XIONG (DHS Press Release, 01/19/2026)
DOC notes: ICE detainer received 3/16/2007; released to ICE 12/11/2012; returned to DOC custody 9/27/2013.

XAY XIONG (DHS Press Release, 01/12/2026)
DOC notes: Records reflect an individual with this name was released to INS on 8/29/2001.

EDDY XOL-LAORES (DHS Press Release, 01/16/2026)
DOC notes: No Minnesota records.

MENG KHONG YANG (DHS Press Release, 01/13/2026)
DOC notes: Records reflect a recent release to ICE on 1/12/26.