Two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who shot a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis last month are now accused of providing false statements about the incident, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson.
Administrative leave and investigation
ICE and the Department of Justice reviewed video evidence and found that sworn testimony from the two agents appeared untruthful. Both officers have been placed on administrative leave, and the agency is investigating the January 14 shooting for possible disciplinary or criminal action.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the agency “does not tolerate violations of the sworn oath” and emphasized that ICE officers are “entrusted with upholding the rule of law.” The agency’s acting director, Todd Lyons, previously told Congress that ICE had opened 37 investigations into officers’ use of force over the past year, though he did not disclose any firings.
Conflicting accounts of the shooting
DHS initially claimed the officer fired to “save his life” after being “ambushed and attacked” by three immigrants wielding a snow shovel and a broom handle during a “targeted traffic stop.” The traffic stop’s subject, Julio Cesar Sosa‑Celis, was injured in the leg, and another Venezuelan, Alfredo Aljorna, was also accused of attacking the officers.
Eyewitness testimony contradicts the agency’s narrative. Indriany Mendoza Camacho, partner of Sosa‑Celis, told Minnesota Public Radio that her partner was trying to separate the agent and the other Venezuelan so both could enter a house, and that no one was grabbed or struck.
Despite the conflicting statements, Minnesota U.S. Attorney Dan Rosen dropped the charges against the men on Thursday.
Operation Metro Surge and its fallout
The shooting occurred amid Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement push that resulted in more than 4,000 arrests of undocumented immigrants, according to White House border czar Tom Homan. The operation also saw the deaths of two U.S. Citizens, Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti, whose killings are under separate federal investigations.
An internal preliminary review by Customs and Border Protection into Pretti’s death has already contradicted the Trump administration’s initial account of that shooting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did DHS initially say about the shooting?
DHS said the officer fired a shot to “save his life” after being “ambushed and attacked” by three immigrants with a snow shovel and a broom handle during a “targeted traffic stop.”
What actions have been taken against the ICE agents involved?
The two officers have been placed on administrative leave while a joint ICE‑DOJ review examines video evidence that suggests they gave false testimony. The agency said they could be fired or face criminal prosecution.
What larger operation was the shooting part of?
The incident occurred during Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement campaign that brought about 3,000 agents to Minnesota and resulted in over 4,000 arrests.
How might these developments affect future immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota?
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