U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents apprehended a convicted sex offender in Minnesota on December 31, 2025, following a targeted operation. The individual, identified as Mahad Abdulkadir Yusuf, a Somali national, had evaded law enforcement for years despite a serious criminal history. According to ICE, Yusuf was living in the U.S. illegally at the time of his arrest and continued to pose a threat to public safety.
Yusuf’s criminal background includes a conviction for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, wherein he was found guilty of forcing a victim to perform oral sex on multiple occasions. His record also indicates a prior arrest for first-degree assault in 2016. Additionally, an active warrant was issued for his arrest in 2024 for obstructing police. Yusuf originally entered the United States in 1996 and became a lawful permanent resident, a status revoked due to his criminal convictions.
“Yusuf threw away his shot at the American dream by repaying our country’s generosity with these vicious crimes,” ICE stated in a press release regarding the arrest.
Criticism of Local Policies
Federal officials attributed Yusuf’s prolonged freedom to Minnesota’s sanctuary-style policies. ICE’s statement directly criticized Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, claiming that these policies permitted dangerous individuals to evade law enforcement.
“Thanks to the sanctuary policies of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, this dangerous criminal was free to prowl the streets and victimize Minneapolis residents for years,” ICE noted.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials revealed that attempts to detain Yusuf previously had been obstructed by an apartment manager, who allegedly refused to allow agents access to the building. Mark Zito, Special Agent in Charge of HSI, expressed concern that local sanctuary policies hinder law enforcement efforts.
“Local sanctuary policies and continued misinformation about what ICE operations actually entail continue to fuel these irresponsible, dangerous acts of obstructing law enforcement,” Zito stated. He emphasized that non-cooperation with ICE enables violent offenders, including convicted sex predators, to escape justice.
Context of Enforcement Actions
The recent arrest falls within a broader context of heightened immigration enforcement, with ICE reporting over 622,000 deportations since the start of former President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown on January 20, 2025.
This incident also occurs amid heightened scrutiny of ICE following the tragic shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis during an enforcement operation. The shooting drew sharp criticism from Democratic leaders, including Governor Walz and Mayor Frey, who demanded that ICE cease its operations in the city.
President Trump addressed the shooting on social media, referring to the footage as “a horrible thing to watch” and encouraged public support for law enforcement officers who are “just trying to do the job of MAKING AMERICA SAFE.”
In the wake of these developments, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Good had been “stalking and impeding” ICE agents during their operation and accused her of attempting to “weaponize her vehicle” against an officer.
The arrest of Mahad Abdulkadir Yusuf underscores the complexities of immigration enforcement and local policies, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding public safety and the responsibilities of local law enforcement agencies.
