Minnesota releases Somali man convicted of drug trafficking despite ICE's request
The Department of Homeland Security alleged that local authorities ignored a federal request to keep Mustafa Abdirahman Abdi, who had been convicted of drug trafficking and aggravated assault, in custody.
ICE agents during an operation (File photo)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that authorities in Hennepin County, Minn., released an undocumented immigrant of Somali origin with a criminal record for drug trafficking and aggravated assault, even though U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had requested that he be held in custody so that immigration detention proceedings could proceed.
The case, exclusively revealed by journalist Ben Whedon of Just the News, involves Mustafa Abdirahman Abdi, who entered the United States on an unknown date and was first detained by immigration agents in 2020.
According to information provided by DHS to the media outlet, Abdi received a deportation order in 2021, but was released during the Joe Biden administration, despite his criminal record.
On Oct. 24, ICE filed a request for immigration detention while Abdi was being held at the Hennepin County Jail. However, local authorities rejected the request and subsequently released him.
According to DHS, the individual remains at large, and ICE is attempting to locate him.
DHS blames Democratic authorities in Minnesota
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin harshly criticized the lack of cooperation from local authorities with federal agents and Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
Mullin accused both leaders of supporting sanctuary city policies that, in his view, jeopardize the safety of Americans.
The official stated that Minneapolis authorities refused to cooperate with ICE despite being aware of the immigrant's convictions for aggravated assault and drug trafficking.
He also called on local leaders to put an end to these policies before more victims emerge, according to statements reported by Just the News.
Why did local authorities reject ICE's request?
The case once again brings sanctuary policies to the forefront of the debate—policies through which certain jurisdictions limit their cooperation with federal authorities on immigration matters.
In accordance with the official policy of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, its deputies do not execute administrative immigration detention requests issued by ICE unless there is a court order signed by a judge.
The immigration arrest requests, known as detainers, allow ICE to ask a state or local jail to temporarily hold an individual who would otherwise be released, for the purpose of taking custody of that person and processing their removal from the country.
The ICE officially explains that these requests are intended to facilitate the transfer of individuals subject to deportation from local authorities to federal authorities.
While the federal government believes that refusing to comply with these requests hinders the removal of immigrants with criminal records, Hennepin County authorities maintain that the enforcement of civil immigration laws falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government and that administrative requests are not equivalent to court orders.
DHS has intensified its criticism of these jurisdictions and has launched a campaign called “Sanctuary Insanity,” aimed at exposing cases in which local authorities refuse to cooperate with federal immigration operations.
Abdi's case thus adds to the standoff between the Trump administration and jurisdictions that restrict their cooperation with ICE, particularly when it comes to foreign nationals with criminal convictions and pending deportation orders.
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