DHS Secretary Highlights Assault Conviction of Ghanaian National During Minnesota Enforcement Operation
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has spotlighted the case of Philip Adjoko, a Ghanaian national identified by the agency as an undocumented individual, who was convicted of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. The announcement was part of a broader release regarding “Operation Metro Surge,” a recent federal enforcement sweep in Minnesota aimed at apprehending foreign nationals with criminal records.
According to DHS statements released in late January 2026, Adjoko was among several individuals targeted during the operation. The agency listed his conviction as a primary example of the “public safety threats” the department is prioritizing for removal. Alongside Adjoko, DHS officials noted the arrests of other foreign nationals in the region, including individuals from Mexico and Laos convicted of offenses ranging from vehicle theft to domestic abuse. Secretary Noem emphasized these arrests as evidence of the administration’s commitment to removing individuals deemed dangerous from communities.
While the Department of Homeland Security maintains that such operations are essential for national security and public safety, the agency’s intensified focus on immigration enforcement has drawn significant criticism and legal challenges. Immigration advocates and civil rights groups have raised objections to the administration’s methods, arguing that highlighting individual criminal cases is often used to justify broad-sweeping policies that affect otherwise law-abiding undocumented communities.
Furthermore, Secretary Noem’s tenure has faced scrutiny regarding due process rights. Recent federal court rulings have challenged DHS decisions related to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) cancellations and the rapid deportation of individuals without bond hearings. Critics argue that while the removal of violent offenders is a standard law enforcement priority, the accompanying rhetoric and widespread sweeps have created a climate of fear that extends beyond the criminal element, impacting families and long-term residents with no criminal history. DHS officials, however, continue to assert that the removal of individuals with convictions like Adjoko’s remains a non-negotiable pillar of their enforcement strategy.
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