Abdirashid Elmi/Somalia/Murder

On May 1, 2025, ICE officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, arrested Abdirashid Elmi, a 50-year-old Somali national, following his release from state prison. Elmi had been convicted of second-degree murder and had served over 17 years in custody. His conviction stemmed from a 2007 incident in Hennepin County where he fatally shot a man during a dispute in a public park. He was sentenced to 20 years but was released early on supervised parole.

Elmi had originally entered the United States in the early 2000s and was granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which was later revoked following his conviction. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal in 2009 while Elmi was still serving his sentence. ICE lodged a detainer with the Minnesota Department of Corrections prior to his scheduled release.

Upon release, Elmi was transferred directly to ICE custody without incident. He is currently detained at a federal holding facility pending removal to Somalia. ICE officials confirmed that his final order of removal has been reinstated, and no further legal relief is pending.