MINNEAPOLIS, MN January 6, 2026 – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested an undocumented immigrant from Ecuador in Minneapolis on Monday, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The individual, identified in some reports as Tomas Espin Tapia, is wanted in Ecuador on charges of murder and sexual assault. He also has prior convictions in Ecuador for robbery and extortion.
Secretary Noem shared bodycam-style video footage of the arrest on X (formerly Twitter), showing a team of heavily armed ICE agents entering an apartment building, apprehending the suspect inside a residential unit, and escorting him in handcuffs to a waiting vehicle outside in a snowy parking lot.
“Another murderer and sexual predator off of Minneapolis’s streets thanks to @ICEgov,” Noem wrote in the post. “Just arrested this criminal illegal alien from Ecuador who has an active warrant for murder and sexual assault in Ecuador. He was convicted of robbery and extortion in Ecuador.”
The operation appears to be part of a broader surge in federal immigration enforcement actions in the Twin Cities area under the Trump administration. Noem has been actively involved in similar operations, including joining agents in St. Paul.
The arrest drew praise from supporters of stricter immigration policies, while critics raised concerns about the militarized approach in residential areas.
No further details on the suspect’s identity or pending deportation proceedings have been released by DHS. The case highlights ongoing efforts to target non-citizens with serious criminal records.
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