ICE makes first comments following Hibbing raids

HIBBING, Minn. —  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released a statement following the two raids in Hibbing on Wednesday.

A spokesperson from ICE said that eight undocumented people were detained as part of the operation with the Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force.

The raids at El Charro Bar and Grill and La Tequila Taco Shop took place during an operation involving a 2025 cocaine investigation by the task force.

SEE PREVIOUS: ICE Raids 2 Mexican Restaurants in Hibbing, Detains Multiple People

The full statement from the ICE spokesperson:

“ICE arrested eight illegal aliens as part of a Lake Superior Violent Offender Taskforce and St. Louis Co., Minnesota operation, yesterday.”

“ICE’s top priority remains the identification, arrest, and removal of criminal aliens who pose a threat to public safety and national security. Every day, ICE officers take dangerous offenders off our streets—including convicted felons, gang members, human traffickers, and repeat immigration violators. At the same time, ICE continues to carry out its lawful authority to arrest and remove any individual who violates U.S. immigration law. Those who ignore court orders, overstay their lawful status, or fail to depart after being ordered removed are not “non-criminals”—they are in violation of federal law and are subject to enforcement action.”