ICE agents claimed they fired in self-defense, then video evidence revealed something that has both officers under federal investigation

Two federal officers appear to have lied about a confrontation in Minneapolis last month that ended with one of them shooting a Venezuelan immigrant in the leg. This development immediately puts both officers under federal investigation by the Justice Department.

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons delivered the news, confirming that a review of evidence contradicted the officers’ sworn testimony. According to Politico, the announcement came one day after federal prosecutors dropped the criminal cases against two immigrants who had been charged in connection with the January 14 episode.

For weeks, senior leaders at the Department of Homeland Security, including Secretary Kristi Noem, publicly stood by the officers involved, repeatedly defending their actions. Officials insisted the agents were responding to what they described as an “attempted murder,” arguing that the use of deadly force was justified and necessary to protect lives.

Video evidence exposes major inconsistencies in officers’ statements

Lyons confirmed the reversal in a statement. He explained that a joint review by ICE and the Department of Justice of video evidence “has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements.”

Both officers were immediately placed on administrative leave while an internal investigation is completed. Lyons also noted that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is now investigating these false statements. This case follows another controversial ICE investigation that sparked resignations.

The agents’ original story was that two men, Alfredo Aljorna and Julio Sosa Celis, had assaulted them with a broom and a shovel, which prompted one agent to open fire and shoot Sosa Celis. However, that account was quickly questioned. Prosecutors filed a court document stating that “newly discovered evidence” contradicted the officers’ original story.

An FBI agent had signed an affidavit supporting the initial charges and testified in court, but prosecutors now admit that the information presented to that agent was “materially inconsistent” with the new evidence.

After a federal judge, Paul Magnuson, ordered Aljorna and Sosa Celis released from pretrial detention following the dropping of the charges, ICE immediately picked them up again and put them into immigration custody. Judge Magnuson, a Reagan appointee, then ordered ICE to refrain from deporting potential witnesses to the incident.

Another judge, George W. Bush appointee Patrick Schiltz, also deemed the re-detention of the two defendants illegal and ordered them freed. The incident has intensified concerns as ICE agents conduct door-to-door enforcement operations across the country.

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