Federal immigration agents carried out a targeted enforcement operation at a Minneapolis home, detaining a Liberian man identified as Garrison Gibson, who authorities say has been under a final immigration removal order for more than a decade.
According to court filings, Gibson is a 38-year-old Liberian citizen with a final order of removal dating back to 2009. ICE agents executed the arrest using a battering ram after announcing their presence and receiving no compliance at the residence.
The Department of Homeland Security later released a statement explaining that the operation was based on Gibson’s extensive criminal history, describing it as a “lengthy rap sheet.” DHS officials emphasized that the arrest was part of a focused effort to locate and detain individuals with outstanding removal orders who also pose public-safety concerns.
DHS records allege Gibson’s criminal history includes robbery, drug possession with intent to sell, possession of a deadly weapon, malicious destruction of property, and theft. Authorities say these factors elevated the urgency of the operation and justified the tactical approach used by agents.
Video from the scene shows agents breaching the residence and taking Gibson into custody without further escalation. No injuries were reported during the arrest, and officials stated that agents followed standard procedures for high-risk operations.
Federal officials reiterated that ICE does not conduct random raids and instead prioritizes individuals with active removal orders and documented criminal records. They also stressed that final removal orders are the result of court proceedings, not discretionary decisions made during enforcement actions.
The arrest has sparked debate online, with some critics questioning ICE tactics, while others argue that enforcing long-standing court orders is necessary to uphold the rule of law and protect communities.
DHS officials concluded by stating that enforcement operations like this one will continue as long as removal orders remain outstanding, particularly in cases involving serious criminal allegations.
