Reports circulating on social media alleging sexual assault, excessive force and kidnapping of U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents during recent enforcement operations in the Twin Cities gained widespread attention this week.
But the Department of Homeland Security is pushing back on those claims and saying they don’t withstand a review of the facts.
In one case, cellphone video captured agents escorting a detainee into a portable toilet during an arrest in Minneapolis. TikTok and X activists immediately implied it was a sexual assault, with one post questioning whether an ICE agent was “tactically taking her clothes off while handcuffed.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar even weighed in, posting on X: “This is deeply alarming, if anyone has more information please share. Brooklyn Center is in my district and I would love any info you all can provide.”
This is not a woman, it is a man and he had to use the restroom.
We don’t deny people the bathroom. It is standard, longstanding policy to never allow a subject in custody to enter an enclosed area alone as they are under arrest and could barricade themselves in. Procedure is… https://t.co/YPfBdCrsWu
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) January 12, 2026
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the detainee was a man, not a woman, and that he asked to use the restroom.
“We don’t deny people the bathroom. It is standard, longstanding policy to never allow a subject in custody to enter an enclosed area alone as they are under arrest and could barricade themselves in. Procedure is same used in any location,” McLaughlin posted.
Richfield Target arrest
More online backlash followed an arrest at a Richfield-area Target, where a viral post claimed that Border Patrol “just illegally arrested a U.S. citizen.”
Looks like you might be missing some context here. Specifically, the part where the guy takes a swing at a Federal Agent. Also the part where the Federal Agent was trying to move past him.
But sure let’s pretend Border Patrol was there to arrest this US citizen so we can make… https://t.co/f0e4u4OvYz pic.twitter.com/dOvIiVtm9p
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) January 12, 2026
However, DHS said “the individual was arrested for assaulting federal law enforcement officers under 18 U.S.C. 111, assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers.”
This individual was arrested for assaulting federal law enforcement officers under 18 U.S.C 111, assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers. https://t.co/792ZWVyXPU
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 12, 2026
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen said “one of the biggest and most dishonest (and dangerous) media hoaxes concerns ICE arresting citizens.”
“ICE, an elite federal law enforcement agency, will arrest those (regardless of immigration status) who are criminally obstructing or impeding a law enforcement operation, assaulting officers, harboring illegal aliens, etc. — all felony crimes. These individuals are being arrested by DHS for *criminal prosecution* by the Department of Justice,” he said.
Another viral claim alleges brutality during ICE arrest
A separate round of online outrage centered on a widely shared post alleging ICE agents “brutally detained” a U.S. citizen near Portland Avenue in Minneapolis.
The poster claimed agents shattered a vehicle window, pointed pepper-spray at a “well-known observer,” dragged him from his car and knelt on his neck. The post asserted the man was “targeted by ICE” and framed the incident as another example of federal abuse.
DHS publicly refuted the characterization, calling the allegations misleading and devoid of context.
In an X thread, the department said ICE officers were responding to a distress call from fellow agents when “violent rioters swarmed their vehicle, blocked their path, and assaulted them.”
“These officers gave MULTIPLE lawful commands to the violent agitator in this video, but he chose to repeatedly refuse these commands. It is a felony to obstruct law enforcement, and it is another felony to resist arrest. This individual did both, and the officers were duty-bound to arrest him,” DHS wrote.
The agency added that officers used “the minimum amount of force necessary,” and said the circulating video was slowed and edited to exaggerate how long an officer was atop the suspect.
“We stand by our officers who followed their training to the letter,” the agency concluded.
On January 7, 2026, ICE officers responded to a distress call from fellow officers who were under attack by agitators. One of these endangered officers, in fear of losing his life, defensively fired his weapon.
On their way to relieve their fellow law enforcement, HUNDREDS of… https://t.co/tbeWMeLyCw
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 13, 2026
In another case, a writer for Slate claimed that she was hired by ICE despite not signing or submitting any paperwork.
“Failed drug test. No background check. No paperwork. Yet, this investigative journalist was still ‘hired’ by ICE. The bar is on the floor,” the U.S. Senate Judiciary Democrats — which includes Sen. Amy Klobuchar — said while sharing the article on X.
DHS responded by calling the article “such a lazy lie.”
This is such a lazy lie.
This individual was NEVER offered a job at ICE.
Applicants may receive a Tentative Selection Letter following their initial application and interview that is not a job offer. It just means they are invited to submit information for review, similar to… https://t.co/jVgxOGCgNN
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 14, 2026
“This individual was NEVER offered a job at ICE. Applicants may receive a Tentative Selection Letter following their initial application and interview that is not a job offer,” the agency said. “It just means they are invited to submit information for review, similar to any other applicant.”
Minnesota sues over ICE presence
On Monday, the state of Minnesota, joined by the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, filed a federal lawsuit challenging the federal government’s deployment of immigration agents to the Twin Cities. It asks courts to end the surge in Minneapolis and St. Paul and block similar actions in the future.
“We allege that the obvious targeting of Minnesota for our diversity, for our democracy and our differences of opinion with the federal government is a violation of the Constitution and of federal law,” Attorney General Keith Ellison said at a news conference on Jan. 12.
On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance weighed in, posting on X that the federal government has no plans to scale back enforcement and said the deportation process is “orderly and normal” in cities that aren’t sanctuary jurisdictions.
This argument is just entirely fake, for two reasons.
1) In the Obama administration, they counted being turned away at the border as a deportation. A person would show up, be sent back, and counted as a deportation. We have to do deportations from the interior of the country… https://t.co/cTBU8SG2rv
— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 14, 2026
“In Minneapolis and a few other sanctuary jurisdictions, local jurisdictions and a few leftwing agitators have decided to wage war on all immigration enforcement officers,” he said. “They are hoping that a little chaos will convince us to give up on immigration enforcement. They are wrong.”
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