A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson denied reports that an individual contracted to conduct background checks for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was detained during a Minneapolis prostitution sting.
“This individual is NOT an ICE employee or contractor. He has no affiliation with ICE. This is just another smear peddled by sanctuary politicians and the media leading to a 1,300% increase in assaults against our brave ICE law enforcement,” the statement reads.
A spokesperson for the police department in Bloomington, Minnesota, told Newsweek: “At the time of arrest the individual was in possession of United States of America Department of Defense identification card that indicated he was a contractor that was authorized to conduct federal background investigations. We confirmed this with the Federal Government.”
Why It Matters
The arrest comes as ICE is facing growing scrutiny about its tactics about the Trump administration’s ramped up immigration enforcement. Criticism toward ICE intensified after the fatal shootings of two American citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis in January. Other reports of tactics that allegedly include using a 5-year-old as bait have also raised eyebrows among ICE critics.
What to Know
During a press conference this week, Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said a man named Brashad Johnson was among 30 suspects arrested during a prostitution sting, reported local news outlet KSTP. It was unclear whether Johnson had an attorney at this point.
The arrest came as part of “Operation Looking for Love in All the Wrong Place,” according to the report.
Hodges described the detainment as the “disturbing arrest that we’ve had here” during a press conference, the news station reported. He allegedly was a contractor with the Department of Defense, according to the station.
“He is a backgrounder for ICE, Homeland Security and federal agencies. So when you’re getting your security clearance, this is one of the guys that does your backgrounds, which is kind of scary,” Hodges said.
However, the DHS spokesperson told Newsweek he had no affiliation with ICE.
Video of the chief’s remarks has spread across social media, receiving 2.3 million views on X.
A majority of Americans disapprove of ICE, according to the latest NBC News poll. In total, 66 percent of respondents to the survey said they either somewhat or strongly disapprove of the agency, while 34 percent said they approve of the way it is handling its job. It surveyed 21,995 adults from January 27 to February 6, 2026 with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.
Government Faces 2026 Shutdown Over ICE Funding
As ICE faces scrutiny, lawmakers remain divided about whether the agency’s funding.
Lawmakers have until the end of the day on February 13 to pass funding for DHS to avoid a partial government shutdown. The stopgap measure passed at the end of January included only two weeks of funding for the agency as an effort to give lawmakers more time to reach an agreement on ICE funding.
Democrats are pushing for new limits on ICE operations amid growing scrutiny about their tactics, but Republicans have supported a clean funding bill. The Congressional standoff follows the two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens in Minneapolis last month.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both New York Democrats, outlined Democrats’ demands in a letter sent to GOP leadership last week.
Demands included targeted enforcement, prohibiting agents from wearing masks, and requiring agents to wear identification during operations.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, dismissed Democrats’ demands in remarks to reporters, NBC News reported.
“It’s totally unrealistic. Their demand list went from three items to 10 items. It just shows you they’re not, they’re not serious yet,” he said. “There’s just a bunch of stuff in there that’s a nonstarter, and they know it.”
What People Are Saying
Bloomington Police Chief Hodges said, per KMSP-TV: “The federal government has a certain agency that does all their backgrounds, the Department of Defense, he works for them. So he does all the ICE backgrounds, HSI backgrounds, FBI, whenever anyone needs a security clearance, he’s one of the people who does it. Not just specific to ICE, other federal agencies also.”
Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, a Democrat, wrote to X: “Thank you to Minnesota’s local law enforcement for keeping our communities safe and getting the worst of the worst off our streets.”
What Happens Next
It’s unclear when he will appear in court. Meanwhile, ICE continues to face national scrutiny amid the immigration debate. Governor Walz has said he believes ICE raids in the state will end within days.
