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Federal Agents Placed on Leave After “False Statements” in Minneapolis ICE Shooting
In a stunning reversal, the Justice Department has filed a motion to drop criminal charges against two Venezuelan men involved in a January incident where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot one of them in Minneapolis. The motion comes after ICE admitted its agents made “false statements” under oath about what transpired.
The incident began when Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, working as a DoorDash driver, realized he was being followed by ICE agents while making deliveries. According to his attorney, Frederick J. Goetz, Aljorna drove to his home where he was tackled by an agent but managed to break free and run inside the house.
Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, Aljorna’s cousin, was at the door when Aljorna approached. As Sosa-Celis shut the door and attempted to lock it, he was shot in the leg by an ICE agent.
“This was an absolute unreasonable use of force, and the officer was fabricating claims against my client to justify that,” Goetz told reporters.
The shooting occurred just one week after a federal agent fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis, an incident that had already sparked protests and confrontations with law enforcement in the city.
Initially, the Department of Homeland Security claimed Sosa-Celis was driving the car and that he, Aljorna, and another man assaulted an agent before the agent fired his weapon. However, in a January 16 court filing supporting criminal charges against the two men, the Department of Justice contradicted this account, stating that Aljorna was actually the driver.
Video evidence reviewed by authorities has now completely undermined the federal agents’ version of events. ICE Director Todd Lyons announced that the two federal agents involved have been placed on administrative leave while the Justice Department investigates their “untruthful statements.” The agents may face termination and potential criminal prosecution.
“This was an extraordinary and exceedingly rare motion,” Sosa-Celis’ attorney Robin Wolpert said, adding that her client is “determined to seek justice and hold the ICE officer accountable for his unlawful conduct.”
The dismissed case fits into a concerning pattern of federal law enforcement releasing accounts after shootings that are later proven false or misleading when video evidence emerges. Similar incidents occurred in the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, where video evidence contradicted elements of the government’s official narrative.
In Chicago last year, prosecutors dropped charges against Marimar Martinez, who the government claimed had rammed a federal agent’s vehicle before he shot her several times. When evidence in the case was finally released, it supported Martinez’s claim that her vehicle had been the one that was rammed, not the agent’s. Text messages also showed the agent bragging about how many times he had shot her.
“It’s mind-boggling that DHS continues this pattern of making immediate, definitive statements about what happened that are very quickly disproved by actual evidence,” said CNN legal analyst Elie Honig.
The Trump administration has faced mounting credibility issues as its immigration crackdown continues in predominantly Democratic cities nationwide. Judges from across the political spectrum have described the government’s claims in court as “unreliable,” “untethered to the facts,” and “simply not credible.”
The motion to dismiss the charges with prejudice—meaning the case cannot be brought back—represents what Honig calls a “remarkably unusual” admission from federal prosecutors that they presented incorrect information to the court.
“While judges ordinarily give the Justice Department a lot of deference and a lot of implied credibility, that’s changing now,” Honig added. “You have credibility only until you give it away.”
This case adds to growing scrutiny of ICE operations and raises serious questions about accountability within federal law enforcement agencies, particularly in immigration enforcement actions under the current administration.
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7 Comments
I’m glad the Justice Department is looking into this incident and taking steps to hold the agents responsible. Proper investigation and oversight are essential to ensure such abuses don’t happen again.
The details here raise serious questions about the credibility and conduct of these ICE agents. Fabricating claims to justify the use of force is unacceptable and undermines public trust in law enforcement.
The details of this case are very concerning. Alleged misconduct by law enforcement officials, especially the use of false statements to justify their actions, is a serious breach of the public’s trust. Transparency and accountability are vital.
The alleged false statements by the ICE agents are very concerning. Transparency and accountability are critical to maintain public trust in law enforcement. I hope this case leads to meaningful reforms.
This is a troubling development, but it’s good to see the Justice Department taking action. Ensuring law enforcement respects the rights and safety of all citizens should be a top priority.
This is a concerning case of alleged misconduct by ICE agents. It’s troubling to hear that they made false statements under oath to justify their actions. Transparency and accountability are crucial when it comes to law enforcement use of force.
This incident highlights the need for rigorous oversight and training of law enforcement, especially when it comes to use of force. The alleged false statements are deeply troubling and undermine public confidence.