Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons said on Tuesday that the agency was conducting “the largest immigration operation ever” in Minneapolis and had captured a murder suspect and charged a sex offender.
Lyons said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under the leadership of Secretary of State Kristi Noem, has rushed to Minneapolis to combat the fraud, arrest the perpetrators and deport illegal immigrants. This comes amid an ongoing massive welfare fraud scandal in the state.
“We are currently engaged in the largest immigration operation in our history,” Lyons said in a video interview released to X by the Department of Homeland Security. “This is a massive effort by ICE.”
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Homeland Security law enforcement detained Ecuadorian illegal immigrant Tomas Espin Tapia.
Lyons said Law Enforcement and Deportation Operations and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating.
“They were on the ground… going door to door, visiting a number of suspicious companies that were not only employing illegal aliens who weren’t even supposed to be in the country, but were involved in potential cases of human smuggling, human trafficking, and were also investigating those cases of fraud,” Lyons said.
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Lyons praised Norm’s leadership and her success in catching dangerous criminals.
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and law enforcement arrested Thomas Esping Tapia in Minneapolis.
“[Noem] Had a great, successful surgery. “A murder suspect and a wanted rapist are once again hiding in plain sight in Minneapolis,” Lyons said. “They are fighting these sanctuary jurisdictions that allow these criminal illegal aliens to roam the streets and take advantage of the public assistance that every tax-paying American deserves.” “
The Department of Homeland Security also released a video showing armed federal agents arresting Ecuadorian illegal immigrant Tomas Espin Tapia, saying he was wanted for murder and sexual assault and had a robbery conviction.
“To the criminals living among us, you are not our neighbors. Leave now or we will find you,” the Department of Homeland Security wrote.
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Tomas Espin Tapia, an illegal Ecuadorian immigrant, was bundled into a car by Department of Homeland Security law enforcement.
Lyons also said the state’s asylum policies are attractive to illegal immigrants.
“Sanctuary protections really attract other illegal aliens to come here for welfare, public assistance and SNAP benefits,” Lyons said. “It’s like a magnet for criminals who are hiding in plain sight. That’s what we’re finding in Minnesota.”
Original source of the article: ICE launches ‘largest immigration operation ever’ in Minneapolis, acting director says