U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have taken into custody Mariama Sia Kanu, a Sierra Leonean national, as part of a major crackdown on noncitizens with serious criminal convictions in Minnesota.
Kanu, who has been under a final deportation order since July 5, 2022, was arrested by ICE officers in the state. Official records show she was previously convicted of two counts of homicide, along with four counts of driving under the influence (DUI), three counts of larceny, and burglary.
This arrest is among dozens carried out in recent days during an intensified ICE operation targeting individuals described by the agency as some of the “worst of the worst” criminal noncitizens. Many of those detained had long-standing deportation orders, some dating back decades, yet remained in the U.S., often in areas with sanctuary policies.
The enforcement push has drawn attention to other cases involving Sierra Leonean nationals in recent years. For instance, in March 2025, Prince Solomon Knox, 62, was deported after convictions for visa fraud and domestic assault; he had allegedly concealed ties to the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), a notorious group during Sierra Leone’s civil war. Additional removals from Sierra Leone have occurred amid broader efforts to repatriate individuals with violent histories or immigration violations.
ICE Director Todd M. Lyons emphasized the agency’s ongoing commitment to public safety. “Regardless of staged political theatrics, ICE is going to continue to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota and elsewhere,” Lyons stated in a recent release regarding the operations.
The Minnesota actions have sparked protests and criticism from local leaders and immigration advocates, who have clashed with federal agents during some enforcement activities. ICE maintains that the focus remains on removing dangerous offenders to protect communities.
This latest operation highlights the federal government’s renewed emphasis on executing long-delayed deportations of noncitizens convicted of violent crimes. Kanu’s case adds to a growing list of high-profile arrests in the ongoing nationwide effort.
