Acting ICE Head: Officers May Face Federal Charges Over “Untruthful Statements” in Minnesota Shooting
WASHINGTON — The acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced today that two of the agency’s officers appear to have provided “untruthful statements” regarding a shooting incident in Minnesota last month, signaling that the agents involved could face federal criminal charges. The admission marks a significant pivot in a case that has already led to the dismissal of charges against two Venezuelan migrants who were initially accused of assaulting federal law enforcement.
The controversy stems from a January 14 operation in Minneapolis, during which an ICE officer shot Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg. Initial reports filed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleged that the agents were forced to fire a “defensive shot” after being violently attacked with a snow shovel and a broom handle during a chaotic arrest attempt. However, the narrative provided by the officers has since unraveled under scrutiny.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity regarding the ongoing personnel matter, the acting director stated that an internal review, combined with evidence gathered by the FBI, uncovered serious discrepancies in the officers’ official accounts. “Two of our officers appear to have made untruthful statements regarding the events that transpired in Minnesota,” the official said. “We hold our personnel to the highest standards of integrity. Consequently, these individuals may face federal charges for their actions and for falsifying official records.”
The announcement follows a move earlier this week by U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Daniel Rosen, who filed a motion to dismiss felony assault charges against Sosa-Celis and a second man, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, “with prejudice,” meaning they cannot be charged again for the same alleged offense. In court filings, federal prosecutors admitted that “newly discovered evidence,” including surveillance footage, was “materially inconsistent” with the sworn complaints filed by the agents.
According to the initial DHS account, Sosa-Celis had allegedly fled a traffic stop, crashed his vehicle, and attacked an agent while another suspect fled. However, an affidavit later filed by the FBI contradicted this, identifying Aljorna as the driver who fled and suggesting the physical altercation did not unfold as the ICE agents had described. Video evidence reviewed by investigators reportedly showed that the agents’ claims of being under life-threatening assault were not supported by the visual record.
Defense attorneys for the two men have long maintained that the case against their clients was fabricated to justify the use of excessive force. “The video surveillance evidence that captured the incident was materially inconsistent with the federal agent’s claims,” said Frederick Goetz, an attorney representing Aljorna. “The agent’s claims of being assaulted were simply not backed up by the video evidence.”
The incident has intensified scrutiny on federal immigration operations in the Twin Cities, coming just days after a separate fatal shooting involving ICE agents in the area. Community leaders and civil rights advocates have called for an independent overhaul of oversight procedures within the agency, citing a “pattern of misinformation” in initial use-of-force reports.
As of Friday, the Department of Justice has not formally announced specific charges against the officers, though the probe is now classified as a criminal investigation into potential civil rights violations and obstruction of justice. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the federal inquiry.
* kare11.com
* cbsnews.com
* theguardian.com
