ICE tackles, arrests 18-year-old in Minneapolis courthouse lobby

1d Breaking Twin Cities 1 source 8 relevant data

ICE agents tackled and arrested 18-year-old Junior De Jesus Herrera Berrios in the lobby of the Hennepin County Government Center Tuesday morning immediately after a court hearing in his Minnesota felony meth case, drawing whistles, cellphone cameras and a crowd that followed agents out of the building. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty warned that immigration arrests in and around courthouses can blow up pending prosecutions by removing defendants mid‑case and scaring witnesses and victims — particularly people of color — away from testifying, saying this could make it "doubtful" her office can ever hold Herrera Berrios accountable. DHS fired back in a nighttime statement calling him a "criminal illegal alien," accusing "agitators" of tipping him off and claiming he tried to run before agents "successfully" took him into ICE custody, but did not address the local prosecution concerns. The incident adds a new flashpoint to Operation Metro Surge inside the state’s busiest courthouse, and defense and victims’ advocates on social media are already arguing that ICE’s tactics are undermining the state’s own justice system as much as they target individual non‑citizens. For Twin Cities residents who need the Government Center to function as neutral ground, it reinforces fears that simply walking into court — as a defendant, witness, or family member — now carries immigration risk.

📌 Key Facts

ICE agents arrested 18-year-old Junior De Jesus Herrera Berrios in the Hennepin County Government Center lobby after a court hearing on a Minnesota felony meth charge.
Onlookers recorded the takedown, blew whistles and followed agents as they escorted him out, in an incident Fox 9 described as "chaos" inside the courthouse.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said courthouse immigration arrests may force her to drop cases because defendants, witnesses and victims become too afraid to appear, while DHS labeled Herrera Berrios a "criminal illegal alien" and blamed "agitators" for trying to interfere.

📊 Relevant Data

In Hennepin County, Minnesota, foreign-born persons make up 13.7% of the population based on 2019-2023 data.

Hennepin County, Minnesota - U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts — U.S. Census Bureau

Immigrants in the United States, including undocumented immigrants, have lower incarceration rates than U.S.-born citizens, with illegal immigrants having an incarceration rate of about 0.6% compared to 1.5% for natives in 2023.

Illegal Immigrant Incarceration Rates, 2010–2023 — Cato Institute

Undocumented immigrants are less likely to be convicted of crimes than U.S.-born citizens, with studies showing lower conviction rates for undocumented immigrants.

Undocumented Immigrant Offending Rate Lower Than U.S.-Born Citizen Offending Rate — House.gov

The number of people in ICE detention reached a record high of 70,805 as of the end of December 2025, a 73.5% increase from the previous year.

How many people are being detained by ICE? — USAFacts

Venezuelan immigrants to the U.S. are primarily driven by political repression, economic crisis, and instability in Venezuela, with over 7 million Venezuelans emigrating since 2015.

The Reasons Behind the Increased Migration from Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua — Forum Together

Immigrants contribute $26 billion to Minnesota's economy, including through labor, entrepreneurship, and consumer spending.

Economist: Immigrants contribute $26 billion to Minnesota's economy — MPR News

Venezuelan migrants contribute over USD 10 billion a year to regional economies through employment and small businesses.

Venezuelan Migrants Add Over USD 10 Billion a Year to Regional Economies — IOM

Studies in Colombia, Peru, and Chile show no evidence that Venezuelan immigration has increased crime rates in those countries.

Venezuelan Migration, Crime, and Misperceptions: A Review of Data from Colombia, Peru, and Chile — Brookings