One of the things we've seen come more from the Trump administration in recent weeks to combat Democrat/media lies and misinformation about immigration sweeps is to point exactly to who their critics keep defending: criminal illegal immigrants who, if Democrats had their way, would still be free to roam the streets looking for their next victims.
President Trump did it earlier during a White House press briefing that focused on the administration's many accomplishments over the past 365 days.
The thick binder Trump carried with him to the briefing included images of some of the worst of the worst whom immigration enforcement agents have taken into custody since the sweeps began, including several from the Minneapolis operation better known as "Operation Metro Surge."
SEE ALSO: Noem's Blitz: Over 10,000 Illegal Aliens Arrested in Minneapolis
During a press briefing in Minneapolis on Tuesday, Border Patrol Commander at Large Greg Bovino was on the same page, except in Bovino's case, he took a few extra minutes to rip into Democrats who were obstructing the mission, noting that they are not random and are designed to target criminal illegals in communities, something they have to do when Democrat-led cities and states refuse to cooperate:
"Public safety in Minneapolis is not negotiable. When violent criminals exploit gaps in enforcement, gaps at that state and local level most especially, federal law enforcement has a responsibility to act. That is why we are here. And that is what this operation is about. Our operations are lawful, they're targeted, and they're focused on individuals who pose a serious threat to this community. They're not random, and they're not political. They are about removing criminals who are actively harming Minneapolis neighborhoods."
Watch:
🚨BOVINO: Public safety in Minneapolis is NOT negotiable.
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 20, 2026
"Our operations are lawful, targeted & focused on individuals who pose a SERIOUS threat to this community. They're not random & they're not political. They're about REMOVING CRIMINALS who are actively harming Minneapolis… pic.twitter.com/0tPjAimAKo
Bovino went on to take specific aim at Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), noting that communities "pay the price" when elected officials try to obstruct the jobs of federal officers in nabbing violent offenders:
"For too long, residents have been told that enforcing our nation's immigration laws undermines public safety. In reality, the opposite is true. When the law is not enforced, violent offenders remain free, criminal networks expand, and the community pays the price. Our neighbors, our citizens, our friends pay the price. Rather than confront that reality of which I’ve just spoken, leaders like Tim Walz or Mayor Frey have relied on heated rhetoric and accusations that distract from the facts."
Watch:
🚨Greg Bovino DEUNKS Leftist claims with FACT
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 20, 2026
"When the law is not enforced, violent offenders remain free, criminal networks expand & the community pays the price....Rather than confront the REALITY of which I’ve just spoken, leaders like Tim Walz or Mayor Frey have relied on… pic.twitter.com/XIIwRHl4bN
During the presser, Bovino also shared recent examples that included the names, photos, and rap sheets of some of the violent offenders they had taken off the streets in just the last 24 hours alone, noting that before immigration enforcement agents stepped in, these thugs were walking the streets "with impunity" under the rule of Walz and Frey.
Bovino also took a swing at the media for their lack of focus on the criminal illegals. When a member of the press tried to interrupt him, Bovino shut him down and kept going:
DISGUSTING — Greg Bovino reads off the crimes of illegal aliens arrested in the past 24 HOURS in MN.
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 20, 2026
—Sexual offense against a child including & failure to register as a sex offender
—R@pe or lascivious acts with a minor
—Criminal sexual conduct and domestic assault
Yesterday,… pic.twitter.com/V98RqeWpbR
🚨Bovino on Minnesota ICE arrests: "These are not minor violators or minor, garden-variety criminals. These are repeat offenders with serious criminal histories." pic.twitter.com/L4wsTFiPjB
— Off The Press (@OffThePress1) January 20, 2026
He also reiterated a point he's previously made about the contrast between how operations went in Louisiana versus Minnesota, which is, of course, due in large part to the deliberate lack of cooperation in Minnesota:
WATCH🚨 Greg Bovino says ICE agents went from Louisiana, where state and local officials worked closely with ICE ... to Minnesota, where leaders are highly UNCOOPERATIVE.
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 20, 2026
In LA — Bovino said there was ONE act of violence against ICE.
In MN — Bovino says he's lost count. pic.twitter.com/KMVzz1UKdz
Bovino talked, too, about the increased assaults on officers and how, despite that, they would not be deterred from the mission:
"Officers have been violently and aggressively assaulted. Objects have been thrown and vehicles damaged. Despite that violence, enforcement has continued unabated. Our officers remain professional, focused, courteous, and committed to the mission. That mission again being Title VIII Immigration Enforcement. This effort reflects a coordinated federal approach."
Watch:
🚨 BREAKING: Border Commander Greg Bovino is UNLEASHING on the ground in Minneapolis, saying NOTHING will deter him from rounding up every last criminal illegal
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 20, 2026
"Officers have been violently and aggressively assaulted. Objects have been thrown and vehicles damaged. Despite that… pic.twitter.com/zj5IKlcgvC
In other words, if Walz, Frey, and the militant wacktivists think ICE and the CBP are gonna bend the knee to them, they've got another thing coming.
Editor’s Note: Democrat politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws.
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