DHS Confirms ‘Biden Illegal’ Crashed Into Multiple Vehicles During High-Speed ICE Pursuit in Minnesota
A high-stakes federal enforcement operation in St. Paul, Minnesota, ended in a chaotic multi-vehicle collision on Wednesday after a Honduran national—identified by officials as an “illegal alien” released into the U.S. during the Biden administration—attempted to flee Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The incident has intensified the standoff between federal authorities conducting “Operation Metro Surge” and local officials demanding the removal of ICE agents from the Twin Cities.
Incident Details
The crash occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Selby and Western Avenues in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE officers were attempting a “targeted vehicle stop” of Alexander Romero-Avila, a Honduran national. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that Romero-Avila “began driving recklessly and ran red lights” in a dangerous attempt to evade arrest.
Witnesses reported seeing a red Toyota Prius traveling at speeds estimated near 80 mph before striking a grey sedan and a minivan, eventually spinning out and launching over a snowbank. Romero-Avila reportedly attempted to flee the wreckage on foot, climbing out of a window before being apprehended by federal agents. He was transported to Regents Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No ICE officers or bystanders were seriously injured, though the driver of the minivan was evaluated for shock and minor airbag-related injuries.
The ‘Biden Release’ Connection
Federal officials emphasized the suspect’s immigration history as a key element of the case. DHS confirmed that Romero-Avila had been processed and released into the United States in 2022 under the policies of the Biden administration. This detail has become a focal point for supporters of the current administration’s renewed deportation efforts, who argue that catch-and-release policies have allowed dangerous individuals to remain in the country. “Our officers are now facing a 3,200% increase in vehicle attacks,” McLaughlin noted, attributing the danger to sanctuary policies that encourage evasion.
Local Objections and Fallout
The crash immediately drew sharp condemnation from St. Paul city officials and sparked a tense scene on the ground. Within minutes of the collision, a crowd described by some reports as a “hostile mob” and by others as “concerned neighbors” gathered at the intersection, shouting at federal agents and blowing whistles.
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her issued a blistering statement, labeling the high-speed pursuit in a residential area as “reckless” and calling for the immediate termination of the federal crackdown. “The incident today at Selby and Western underscores the fact that ICE is still present, causing chaos, and putting residents at risk in Saint Paul,” Her said. Local advocacy groups argue that the heavy-handed tactics of “Operation Metro Surge” are endangering U.S. citizens and traumatizing immigrant communities, citing the recent fatal shootings of two individuals by federal agents in separate incidents earlier this month.
Background: Operation Metro Surge
The incident is the latest flashpoint in “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale immigration enforcement campaign launched in November 2025 under the Trump administration. The operation deployed over 3,000 agents to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area with the stated goal of quelling illegal immigration. While DHS reports over 4,000 arrests since the operation began, it has faced fierce resistance from Minnesota’s state and local leadership, who have designated the area a sanctuary jurisdiction.
The operation was reportedly in a “drawdown” phase following the controversial deaths of two U.S. citizens during previous raids, but the Romero-Avila crash suggests active enforcement continues. Tensions remain high as federal prosecutors recently moved to drop charges against two other men involved in a prior altercation with ICE, citing “inconsistent evidence,” further fueling the debate over the transparency and conduct of federal agents in the region.
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