The Minnesota Department of Corrections honors all federal and local detainers, including those issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). DHS’s assertion that 1,360 non-U.S. citizens are in Minnesota’s state custody is inexplicable. Minnesota’s total state prison population is approximately 8,000 individuals, and only 207 (less than 3 percent) are non-U.S. citizens. Further, in 2025, 84 individuals with ICE detainers were released. In each case, ICE was notified in advance and DOC staff coordinated with ICE officials to facilitate the custody transfer when requested.

DHS has not identified which jurisdictions, systems, or timeframes were relied on to produce their numbers nor has any supportive documentation been offered. Again, the figures released by DHS do not align with DOC records or the reality of Minnesota’s prison system.

Minnesota law requires DOC to notify ICE when an individual committed to DOC custody is not a United States citizen. DOC fully complies with this requirement and goes further by honoring all detainers as a matter of policy, even though state law does not require detainer compliance. ICE alone determines whether to place a detainer and is responsible for arranging pickup.

"The Minnesota Department of Corrections has always coordinated with ICE agents when individuals in our custody have detainers and will continue to do so,” said Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell. “Public safety depends on facts, not fear. When federal agencies make claims that are demonstrably false, it undermines trust and disrespects the dedicated professionals who work every day to keep Minnesotans safe.”

The ongoing misstatements by DHS leadership reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of how the criminal justice system operates. Conflating local jail populations with state prison operations and confusing immigration enforcement authority with correctional custody misleads the public and obscures the truth. These claims by DHS do not withstand scrutiny and undermine public confidence in the justice system. It is imperative that we correct the public record.

Media Fact Supplement: Minnesota Corrects the Record

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued multiple public statements alleging that Minnesota has released “violent criminal illegal aliens” from state custody and has cited a list of named individuals as examples. The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) has reviewed each name referenced publicly by DHS or repeated in media reporting.

The facts below are based on DOC records and, where applicable, publicly available court information.

Key Clarifying Facts for Media

• Minnesota DOC operates state prisons, not local jails.
  Many individuals cited by DHS were never in DOC custody and were instead held in county jails, under ICE-only custody, or in other states’ correctional systems .

• DOC honors all ICE detainers.
  In cases where individuals were in DOC custody and an ICE detainer existed, DOC coordinated release to ICE and confirmed pickup.

• DHS continues to conflate local jail custody, ICE custody, and state prison custody , misleading the public about the role and authority of the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

Individuals Cited by DHS as “Worst of the Worst”

Leny Odemel Ramirez-Santos

• DOC custody: None
• Facts: Held briefly in Sherburne County Jail in 2025 on an ICE hold. No DOC records. No verified DOC sentence.

Edwin Amable Ashca Ninasuta

• DOC custody: None
• Facts: Held in Hennepin County Jail for two days in 2023. Convicted of misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Never incarcerated in a Minnesota state prison.

Lenda Neh Mama Epse George

• DOC custody: None
• Facts: Held briefly in Anoka County Jail in 2025. Never in DOC custody.

German Adriano Llangari Inga

• DOC custody: None
• Facts: Held in Hennepin and Freeborn County jails in 2024–2025, including on an ICE hold. Never incarcerated in a Minnesota state prison.

Puol Both

• DOC custody: Yes (historical)
• Facts: ICE lodged a detainer in 2019 and later affirmatively lifted it. DOC complied fully with ICE direction at all times.

Somsalao Thonesavanh

• DOC custody: Yes (historical (1990s))
• Facts: Convicted in 1996. DOC records reflect a term of probation. No current DOC sentence. DHS’s implication of recent release is inaccurate.

Francisco Salazar-Solorzano

• DOC custody: None
• Facts: On pre-trial supervision with Ramsey County.

Teng Houa Vang

• DOC custody: Yes (historical)
• Facts: An individual with this first, middle, and last name was in and out of DOC custody since 2005. Released to ICE in 2006. For additional releases ICE informed the individual to report under an order of supervision.

Lorenzo Armillas Llaurado

• DOC custody: No
• Facts: No Minnesota records

Santiago Antunes Mendiola

• DOC custody: No
• Facts: No Minnesota records

Michael Opeoluwa Egbele

• DOC custody: No
• Facts: Several county detention records

Additional Individuals Cited by DHS or Media

In every instance where the individual was in DOC custody and an ICE detainer existed, DOC coordinated release to ICE and confirmed pickup:

• Zakariya Abdi — Released to ICE on 07/01/2025

• Shwe Htoo — Released to ICE on 11/17/2025

• Aldrin Guerrero-Muñoz — Released to ICE on 10/20/2025

• Pedro Cortez-Soriano — Released to ICE on 12/28/2009

• Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed — Released to ICE on 04/19/2021

• Aler Lisandro Gomez-Lucas — Released to ICE on 11/24/2025

• Galuak Michael Rotgai — Released to ICE on 08/11/2025

• Saeb Sivixay - Released to ICE on 03/15/2009

Other names cited by DHS:

• Were never in DOC custody;
• Were issued an ICE order of supervision instead of being taken into ICE custody;
• Were released to another jurisdiction; or
• Currently incarcerated with another jurisdiction and an active ICE detainer.

Examples

• Mariama Sia Kanu: The Department could not locate this individual in our DOC system. They have numerous jail/police department bookings spanning from 2008 to today.
• Thai Lor (193161): Records reflect an individual with this name was released to an ICE detainer on 3/8/12.
• Sriudorn Phaivan: ICE lodged a detainer on 10/6/2025. The facility coordinated release to ICE, and an ICE officer confirmed pickup. He was released to ICE on 11/24/2025.
• Jose Reyes Jovel: The DOC received an ICE detainer for this individual in April 2024.  The facility coordinated release to ICE, and an ICE officer confirmed pickup. He was released to ICE on 08/04/25.  Was held in Sherburne County on an ICE hold from 8/4/2025 until 12/3/2025.   
• Vannaleut Keomany: Keomany was serving a sentence in Ohio and requested to be transferred to MN for his supervision time, and his request was ultimately denied. This individual was never under the custody or authority of the DOC.    
• Gabriel Figueroa-Gama: An initial search could not locate this individual. An ICE publication indicates he was arrested by ICE for a murder occurring in Chicago, IL. 

Bottom Line for the Public

• DHS has not identified a single instance in which the Minnesota Department of Corrections released an individual from state prison custody in violation of an ICE detainer.

• DHS’s public statements rely on mischaracterized cases, incorrect custody attribution, and jurisdictional confusion.

• When DOC had custody and ICE lodged a detainer, DOC coordinated the release with ICE.