Federal Charges Dropped in Minneapolis Immigration Shooting; ICE Agents Investigated for Untruthful Statements

Federal prosecutors have dropped charges against two Venezuelan men arrested following an immigration shooting incident in Minneapolis, citing "newly discovered evidence" inconsistent with initial allegations. Concurrently, federal authorities have initiated a criminal investigation into two unnamed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers for allegedly making untruthful statements under oath regarding the January 14 incident, during which one of the men sustained a gunshot wound. The agents have been placed on administrative leave.

Incident Overview

The January 14 Confrontation

On January 14, an incident unfolded in north Minneapolis involving federal immigration officers. According to an FBI investigator's affidavit, immigration officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle associated with an individual lacking legal status. The driver, identified as Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, reportedly fled the stop, leading to a vehicle chase that lasted between 15 and 30 minutes, during which Aljorna allegedly drove at speeds up to 80 mph and ran stop signs. During this time, Aljorna reportedly contacted Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis for assistance.

Pursuit and Shooting at Residence

The pursuit concluded at Sosa-Celis's residence. An immigration officer's account indicates that Aljorna crashed into a snowbank and ran towards the house, where the officer reportedly tackled him near the house, leading to a physical struggle in the snow. Sosa-Celis then approached the scene.

Federal authorities initially alleged that Aljorna resisted arrest and that Sosa-Celis and another man attacked an officer with a snow shovel and broom handle, prompting the officer to discharge a firearm. The officer sustained a gash on their right arm, and two brooms and a snow shovel were reportedly found at the scene.

Conflicting Accounts and Evidence

Sosa-Celis sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. Defense attorneys and eyewitnesses, including a neighbor and the individuals' girlfriends, stated they did not observe objects being used to assault the officer. Video footage of the scene, while not presented in court, also reportedly did not depict objects being used in an assault.

Sosa-Celis's wife, Indriany Mendoza Camacho, stated that Sosa-Celis did not use any object to assault the agent and that her husband was shot in the leg by an ICE agent as he closed the door to their home. A bullet was later found embedded between a child's bed and a crib inside the home. Eyewitnesses reported a federal agent firing into Sosa-Celis's front door. Children aged one and three were present inside the residence.

Following the shooting, federal officers surrounded the residence, which contained Aljorna, Sosa-Celis, their girlfriends, and two young children. Officers deployed tear gas twice to facilitate the individuals' exit. Aljorna and Sosa-Celis subsequently exited the house and were arrested; Sosa-Celis received medical treatment for his gunshot wound.

Legal Developments and Dropped Charges

Aljorna and Sosa-Celis initially faced charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers or employees. At a preliminary and detention hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Douglas Micko ordered their release, determining they did not present a public safety or high flight risk due to nonviolent criminal histories and family connections. Conditions for release included avoiding contact with witnesses, with Aljorna also mandated to wear a GPS ankle monitor.

Separately, Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez Ledezma, another Venezuelan man living in the same apartment complex, was also arrested. He was subsequently flown to an ICE detention facility in Texas and later returned to Minnesota and discharged from ICE custody after a federal judge ordered his release, following allegations that his removal aimed to prevent him from serving as an eyewitness.

On February 1, U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, Daniel N. Rosen, announced that all charges against Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna were being dropped with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled.

Rosen cited "newly discovered evidence" that was materially inconsistent with the initial allegations.

Federal Investigation into Agent Misconduct

In parallel with the charges being dropped, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that two federal immigration agents involved in the incident appear to have provided untruthful statements. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons confirmed a joint investigation with the Justice Department, stating that video evidence contradicted the agents' sworn testimony.

The unnamed officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the completion of an internal investigation. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that lying under oath is a serious federal offense and indicated potential consequences for the officers, including termination and criminal prosecution. Attorneys for Aljorna and Sosa-Celis have urged the government to release the name of the ICE agent and pursue charges. State authorities have also initiated their own criminal investigation into the shooting, though the FBI has reportedly declined to share evidence or make the officer available for an interview.

Broader Context and Previous Statements

Initially, DHS and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had publicly stated that an officer discharged a weapon to "save his life" after being "ambushed and attacked by three individuals" with snow shovels and broom handles, describing the event as an "attempted murder of federal law enforcement." Noem also publicly criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, alleging they encouraged impedance and assault against federal law enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to inquiries regarding whether Noem stands by those statements in light of the new evidence.

The incident occurred during "Operation Metro Surge," an immigration enforcement initiative that deployed approximately 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota beginning in December, resulting in over 4,000 arrests of undocumented immigrants. The Trump administration announced the termination of "Operation Metro Surge" on February 2.

This case has drawn attention to a broader pattern of federal use-of-force investigations where initial government narratives have reportedly been challenged by evidence. Other incidents cited include the fatal shootings of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti, as well as the shooting of Marimar Martinez, where video evidence reportedly contradicted initial DHS claims that agents acted out of fear for their lives. The DHS consistently states that agents must demonstrate an "objectively reasonable" belief of danger to themselves or others to justify the use of force, aligning with a 1989 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.