1/26/2026 8:00:00 AM
The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) is releasing new evidence demonstrating that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to publish false Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “arrest” claims in press releases and on their website by mischaracterizing routine custody transfers from Minnesota state prisons. DHS’s “Worst of the Worst” (WOW) website, wow.dhs.gov/Minnesota, allows users to search by state and city for “criminal illegal aliens that have been removed from their state.”
DOC quickly identified 68 cases in which individuals were lawfully transferred from Minnesota Department of Corrections custody directly to ICE, only for DHS officials to falsely claim these same individuals were “arrested” by waves of federal agents deployed into Minnesota communities.
DHS is justifying an unprecedented federal deployment into Minnesota communities based on the demonstrably false narrative that Minnesota refuses to honor ICE detainers. Minnesota DOC honors ICE detainers and coordinates custody transfers every day. Those transfers are documented, scheduled, and verifiable. What is troubling is DHS taking credit for “arrests” which are, in reality, state-to-federal handoffs occurring at prison facilities after individuals complete their state terms of imprisonment, as has been the long-standing practice.
Again, DOC is compelled to release this information because DHS continues to rely on these misrepresentations to justify expanded federal operations in Minnesota.
This disclosure is based on newly reviewed records, cross-checked custody data, and video documentation. DOC has identified 68 false DHS claims to date, all of which are being released publicly with this statement. Additional cases continue to be identified.
To further illustrate the nature of DHS’ misrepresentation, DOC is highlighting four representative examples from the last three weeks. Videos available at YouTube.com/@MinnesotaDOC
(screenshots taken from website links below)
On January 22, 2026, at approximately 9:05 a.m., DOC transferred Jose Eliborio Ocampo-Leon from the Moose Lake facility directly to ICE custody, following standard detainer procedures. The following day, DHS falsely claimed this transfer as an ICE “arrest.” Video documentation confirms the custody transfer. DHS Highlights More Worst of the Worst Including Pedophiles, Sexual Predators, and Drug Traffickers Arrested Yesterday in Minnesota | Homeland Security
On January 6, 2026, at approximately 7:42 a.m., DOC coordinated with ICE and transferred Heydi Aguilera-Bustillo from the Shakopee facility directly to ICE custody. DHS later falsely claimed this transfer as a federal arrest tied to enforcement operations. Video documentation confirms the custody transfer. wow.dhs.gov/Minnesota
On January 8, 2026, at approximately 7:05 a.m., DHS coordinated with ICE and transferred Jaime Tirado-Hernandez from the Lino Lakes facility directly to ICE custody. DHS later falsely claimed this transfer as a federal arrest tied to enforcement operations. Video documentation confirms the custody transfer. wow.dhs.gov/Minnesota
DOC records show that Mauricio Morales-Morales (#270523) is currently in state custody serving his state sentence at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-St. Cloud. On June 2, 2025, at the request of federal authorities, DOC coordinated transfer for Mr. Morales to a court hearing on a writ, which is a judicial order allowing a defendant to be moved temporarily for legal proceedings.
Mr. Morales was returned to state custody following the hearing on September 24, 2025. He was not “arrested” in the community. Despite this, DHS has falsely claimed that he was arrested by federal agents and is currently in ICE custody, when he remains in DOC custody in St. Cloud. DHS continues to mislabel routine, lawful custody movements as federal arrests. wow.dhs.gov/Minnesota
Publishing false arrest claims at this scale is a pattern that cannot be explained by mere incompetence. Minnesotans deserve accurate information about public safety and law enforcement activity. Inflating arrest statistics by claiming credit for state custody transfers not only misleads the public but undermines trust.
The following individuals can be found on DHS’ “Worst of the Worst” website. All were state-to-federal custody transfers, not arrests in the community. Individuals marked with an * have been listed in previous DOC press releases. DOC acknowledges that this review was limited to comparing the names and mugshots provided in the database and confirming the matches we found. A list of these individuals and their release dates from Minnesota state prison locations follows below.
Meng Yang #266699 Rel 01/12/2026* - This individual was released from the Lino Lakes Prison, and is searchable under the neighboring city, Circle Pines. Circle Pines shares the same zip code with the Lino Lakes prison. This individual was picked up on the same date and in the same location as Joshua Fornoh.
DOC will continue to release documentation, including video evidence, as long as DHS continues to share disinformation. Truth matters.
