President Donald Trump is urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to more aggressively publicize arrests of undocumented immigrants with criminal records, arguing that visible enforcement will boost public support.
In a Truth Social post, Trump called on the agencies to “start talking about the murderers and other criminals that they are capturing and taking out of the system,” adding, “They are saving many innocent lives!” He also claimed there are “thousands of vicious animals in Minnesota alone,” and said national crime statistics are “the BEST EVER RECORDED!”
He pressed DHS and ICE to release more identifying details publicly: “Show the numbers, names, and faces of the violent criminals, and show them NOW.” Trump argued that increased transparency would shift opinion toward ICE and away from what he described as “highly paid troublemakers, anarchists, and agitators,” ending the post with “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”
DHS frequently announces immigration arrests and often shares alleged offenders’ names, mugshots, and reported criminal histories.
When asked for comment, DHS pointed to a post from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who wrote that the department has arrested more than 10,000 “criminal illegal aliens” and accused Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of refusing to protect residents. Noem said DHS law enforcement arrested 3,000 individuals in the last six weeks and described them as including “vicious murderers, rapists, child pedophiles and incredibly dangerous individuals.”
Noem also alleged major fraud in Minneapolis, claiming it totals “at least $19 billion,” and said Homeland Security Investigators are conducting broad investigations in the city.
Earlier this week, DHS published a video showing agents in Minnesota arresting Samuel Eduardo Arevalo-Hernandez, identified by the department as an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala. DHS said Cottonwood County, Minnesota, ignored a detainer for Arevalo-Hernandez, who the department said was charged with two counts of third-degree penetration of a child involving victims ages 14 and 15.
Trump’s renewed call for DHS and ICE to highlight arrests comes as the administration’s immigration crackdown faces heightened backlash following the fatal ICE-involved shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.
Good was shot Jan. 7 during a confrontation involving an ICE agent. The incident prompted protests in Minnesota and beyond, with demonstrators demanding immigration enforcement leave their communities.
On Sunday, anti-ICE protesters entered the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, alleging the pastor had ties to immigration enforcement. Video of the disruption shows protesters chanting “Justice for Renee Good” and “Who needs justice, we need justice” during the service.
Trump said he saw footage of the church protest and claimed the demonstrators were paid “professionals.” He added that they are “troublemakers who should be thrown in jail, or thrown out of the country.”
ICE reposted video of the disruption and said, “Agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too.” The agency blamed Walz and Frey for “whipping these mobs into a frenzy and then allowing them to run rampant,” adding, “We won’t be deterred. ICE isn’t going anywhere.”
After Good’s death, Walz and Frey criticized federal immigration enforcement, with Frey demanding that ICE “get the f— out of Minneapolis.”
DHS has said the officer involved acted in self-defense, but several Democrats have disputed that characterization. Frey called the self-defense claim “garbage.”
