Minnesota Department of Corrections Releases New Evidence Showing DHS Publishing False Arrest Claims at Scale
St. Paul, MN: 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
Examples
(screenshots taken from website links below)
Jose Eliborio Ocampo-Leon (Moose Lake)
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
Heydi Aguilera-Bustillo (Shakopee)
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
Jaime Tirado-Hernandez (Lino Lakes)
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
Mauricio Morales-Morales (St. Cloud)
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.
Additional Examples
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.
Circle Pines Release
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.
Lino Lakes Releases
- Jaime Tirado-Hernandez #213612 Rel 1/8/26
- Vannaseng Padichit #244461 Rel 11/17/25
- Andrew Jackson #270383 Rel 11/04/25
- Yahye Abdisalan #209195 Rel 10/06/25
- Kaisar Nur #230763 Rel 09/16/25
- Clarence Cooper #256068 Rel 09/09/25
- Mandy Marcelino #266808 Rel 08/04/25
- Joshua Fornoh #267000 Rel 01/12/26 (07:25 am)*
- Hernan Cortes-Valencia #246008 Rel 10/30/25*
- Adalid Soto Sanchez (Adalid Sotosanchez) #265942 Rel 01/27/25
- Marcelino Acosta Martinez #267694 Rel 03/31/25
- Luis Galarce Genis #268979 Rel 03/12/25
Faribault Releases
- Ibrahim Abdikani #266690 Rel 01/07/26
- Blayon Yuoh #255693 Rel 12/30/25
- Binh Nguyen #253541 Rel 12/09/25
- Pao Xiong #255144 Rel 11/17/25*
- Hyobin Lee #266627 Rel 11/10/25
- Jebah Doe #265764 Rel 11/03/25
- Federico Hernandez-Mozqueda #266699 Rel 10/30/25
- Cristobal Corona-Rodriguez #265182 Rel 10/16/25
- Luis Dominguez Martinez #268893 Rel 10/06/25
- Mario Mancia Hernandez #265499 Rel 09/22/25
- Martin Gbor #251239 Rel 09/02/25
- Ahmed Muhumed #268664 Rel 08/13/25
- Edgar Castellanos Barajas #269011 Rel 08/13/25
- Guido Crespo Abril #259333 Rel 08/05/25
- Alexis Ramirez Zamudio #268069 Rel 08/04/25
- Thongkham Soukaroune #180051 Rel 08/04/25
- George Bestman #263849 Rel 06/16/25 (09:36 am)
- Abdirashid Elmi #264345 Rel 05/01/25 (09:17 am)*
- Gerardo Nava Garcia #265664 Rel 05/12/25 (07:40 am)
- Alexis Botello Sanchez #268454 Rel 05/19/25 (07:33 am)
- Joshua Pennoh #265416 Rel 01/27/25 (09:05 am)
- Kaw Htoo #265681 Rel 4/24/25 (08:40 am)
- Oliver Hernandez Llanes #268045 Rel 04/28/25 (07:33 am)
- Ricky Wolpahgan #252660 Rel 06/05/25 (07:25 am)
Moose Lake Releases
- Rene Hernandez #256744 Rel 01/12/26 (08:53 am)*
- Ignacio Rojas Martinez #261623 Rel 01/08/26 (13:57)
- Listed under a misspelled version of the prison, “Moosel Lake”
- Olman Arias Castro #270728 Rel 11/04/25 (15:39)
- Somprachanh Sannikone #242808 Rel 10/21/25 (10:05 am)
- Jose Galvan Colmenero #266668 Rel 10/20/25 (10:08 am)
- Loc Dinh Phan #159299 Rel 08/21/25 (08:42 am)
- Carlos Landaverde Trigueros (Carlos Landaverde Trigero) #255830 Rel 04/21/25 (09:50 am)
- Jose Reyes Jovel #268729 Rel 08/04/25*
- Juan Partida Ramos #266732 Rel 04/09/25 (10:44 am)
- Leonel Erique-Gonzalez #255025 Rel 04/21/25 (09:57 am)
Rush City Releases
- Jefry Gonzalez Sorto #269997 Rel 07/07/2025
- Chi Nu Xiong #259842 Rel 04/09/2025
- Esteban Trejo #262788 Rel 05/05/2025
- Roberto Inda Galaviz #263330 Rel 08/25/25
Shakopee Releases
- Heydi Aguilera-Bustillo #256042 Rel 01/06/2026 (07:42 am)
- Shwe Htoo #253785 Rel 11/17/2025*
- Naydath Makair #270077 Rel 07/28/2025
- Saric Hata #270001 Rel 06/18/2025
St. Cloud Releases
- Moo Taw #270697 Rel 10/27/2025 (held in Freeborn County Jail beginning that day for ICE)
- Collins Keanche #270920 Rel 09/15/2025
- Maung Than Oo #259537 Rel 07/24/2025
- Tou Xiong #238402 Rel 06/25/2025
- Aden Aden #269823 Rel 06/23/2025
- Hsa Moo #268088 Rel 04/28/2025
- Jacob Ogongo #270366 Rel 06/17/2025
- Mauricio Morales #270523 Upcoming Rel 7/31/42-Currently in custody in SCL - Records show that individual was transported on a writ from the St. Cloud Prison at the request of Homeland Security and later returned to St. Cloud. An ICE detainer was on file. It is unclear why ICE would classify this as an arrest, given that the individual was returned to continue serving their state sentence.
Stillwater-Bayport
- Erick Martinez Mondragon #265996 Rel 04/24/25
- Zakariya “Zakaria” Abdi #243458 Rel 07/01/2025*
- Abdifatah Badil #267075 Rel 03/10/25
- Nurudin Abdi #265884 Rel 03/09/25
- Yonathan Reyes Jovel (Jonathan Reyes Jovel) #269702 Rel 06/30/25
DOC will continue to release documentation, including video evidence, as long as DHS continues to share disinformation. Truth matters.
Contact
Shannon Loehrke, Communications Director
shannon.loehrke@state.mn.us
(612) 759-6869
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