Minnesota Corrections Disputes DHS Claims About Prison Releases
"Public safety depends on facts, not fear."
PAUL, MN (MinnesotaNow) — The Minnesota Department of Corrections is disputing recent claims made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, calling them “categorically false” and saying they misrepresent how Minnesota’s prison system actually operates.
In a statement released Tuesday night, DOC says DHS alleged that Minnesota failed to honor ICE detainers and claimed that “1,360 aliens, including violent criminals,” are currently in state custody. DHS also claimed Minnesota has released nearly 470 “criminal illegal aliens” since President Trump took office.
According to DOC officials, those numbers do not match reality.
“The Minnesota Department of Corrections honors all federal and local detainers, including those issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” the agency said. DOC reports Minnesota’s total state prison population is about 8,000 people, with only 207 non-U.S. citizens, representing less than 3 percent of inmates.
DOC also said that in 2025, 84 individuals with ICE detainers were released from state custody. In each case, ICE was notified ahead of time, and staff coordinated with federal officials when a transfer was requested.
DHS has not provided documentation explaining how its figures were calculated.
“DHS has not identified which jurisdictions, systems, or timeframes were relied on to produce their numbers,” DOC said, adding that the federal claims “do not align with DOC records or the reality of Minnesota’s prison system.”
Minnesota law requires DOC to notify ICE when someone in state prison custody is not a U.S. citizen. While state law does not require compliance with detainers, DOC says it honors all ICE detainers as agency policy.
Commissioner Paul Schnell said inaccurate public statements undermine trust and public safety.
“The Minnesota Department of Corrections has always coordinated with ICE agents when individuals in our custody have detainers and will continue to do so,” Schnell said. “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.”
DOC officials also accused DHS of confusing local jail populations with state prison operations. The agency emphasized that it only operates state prisons, not county jails.
According to DOC, many individuals cited by DHS as examples were never in state prison custody. Instead, they were held in county jails, in ICE-only custody, or incarcerated in other states.
The department reviewed each name publicly referenced by DHS and media reports. In cases where individuals were actually in DOC custody and an ICE detainer existed, DOC says it coordinated releases directly with ICE and confirmed pickups.
DOC provided several examples showing coordinated transfers, including:
- 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
The agency says DHS has not identified a single case where Minnesota released someone from state prison custody in violation of an ICE detainer.
DOC: Many Names Cited by DHS Were Never in State Prison Custody
The Minnesota Department of Corrections also addressed additional names cited by DHS and repeated in some media reports, saying many of those cases involve people who were never in DOC custody or were handled by other jurisdictions.
According to DOC, other individuals referenced by DHS fall into one of several categories:
- Never held in Minnesota DOC custody
- Issued an ICE order of supervision instead of being taken into ICE custody
- Released to another jurisdiction
- Currently incarcerated in another jurisdiction with an active ICE detainer
DOC provided specific examples to clarify the record:
Mariama Sia Kanu: DOC said it could not locate this individual in its system. The department reports numerous jail and police department bookings dating back to 2008, but no state prison custody records.
Thai Lor (193161): DOC records show this individual was released to an ICE detainer on March 8, 2012.
Sriudorn Phaivan: DOC said ICE lodged a detainer on Oct. 6, 2025. Facility staff coordinated the release with ICE, and an ICE officer confirmed pickup. He was released to ICE custody on Nov. 24, 2025.
Jose Reyes Jovel: DOC reported receiving an ICE detainer for this individual in April 2024. The department coordinated the release and confirmed ICE pickup on Aug. 4, 2025. DOC says he was later held in Sherburne County on an ICE hold from Aug. 4, 2025, through Dec. 3, 2025.
Vannaleut Keomany: DOC said Keomany was serving a sentence in Ohio and requested a transfer to Minnesota for supervision. While an initial record was created in anticipation of the request, DOC says the transfer was never approved and the individual was never under DOC custody or authority.
Gabriel Figueroa-Gama: DOC said an initial search did not locate this individual in its system. According to an ICE publication, the individual was arrested by ICE in connection with a murder case in Chicago, Illinois.
“DHS’s public statements rely on mischaracterized cases, incorrect custody attribution, and jurisdictional confusion,” DOC said.
Officials say they released the clarification to correct the public record and address what they called ongoing misinformation.
“It is imperative that we correct the public record,” DOC said.
The DOC also provided this information about 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
READ MORE: Growing Tensions At DOJ Lead To Resignations In Minnesota