Operation Metro Surge is a large, DHS‑led interior immigration enforcement operation launched in December 2025 focused on identifying and arresting noncitizens DHS describes as “criminal illegal aliens” in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area and broader Minnesota. DHS says the operation uses personnel from multiple DHS law‑enforcement components — principally U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) (including Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations) along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other DHS law‑enforcement units — deployed to carry out arrests, fraud investigations and removals.
“Worst of the Worst” is a DHS communications series and enforcement branding that highlights noncitizens DHS says are dangerous criminal offenders whom the agency has arrested or seeks to remove. DHS public releases place individuals on the list by identifying arrests and past criminal convictions or pending charges; DHS does not publish a public, detailed numeric scoring rubric in these releases — placement is based on the agency’s law‑enforcement assessments and arrest/conviction records presented in the announcements.
In DHS public statements about these operations the agency uses the phrase “criminal illegal alien” to mean a non‑U.S. citizen encountered by DHS law‑enforcement who has either been convicted of or is charged with criminal offenses and who is subject to immigration enforcement; DHS releases do not provide a single statutory definition but apply the term in enforcement and publicity materials.
The DHS release mixes prior convictions and current arrests/charges. Some named individuals are described as “convicted” of specific crimes (prior convictions) and others as “arrested and charged” (pending criminal or immigration charges). To verify conviction status, readers should check: state or county court records where the criminal case was filed, local arrest/booking records, and federal immigration court or ICE case records; many jurisdictions provide online case-search portals or public dockets and criminal records are available via state court websites or PACER for federal cases.
DHS/ICE say they coordinate with state and local law enforcement where appropriate but have also asserted authority to conduct federal arrests independently; DHS statements about Operation Metro Surge emphasize federal-led arrests even when local officials decline to cooperate. That approach has prompted lawsuits and public disputes — Minnesota and some cities have sued to restrict the federal deployment and local officials have criticized the operations and limited cooperation. Federal court filings and local government statements provide details on coordination disputes.
Typical next steps after these arrests include: (1) ICE custody/immigration detention and initial processing by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO); (2) placement into immigration removal proceedings in immigration court (or expedited removal if applicable); (3) for individuals with outstanding criminal charges or new criminal offenses, parallel or prior state/federal criminal prosecution can occur; (4) ICE may seek removal (deportation) after criminal cases conclude or if someone is ineligible to remain. Specific outcomes depend on each person’s criminal history, immigration status, and court decisions.