The performing head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement says that two of its officers seem to have made “untruthful statements” about taking pictures a migrant in Minnesota and should face federal prices for his or her actions.
“Immediately, a joint evaluate by ICE and the Division of Justice (DOJ) of video proof has revealed that sworn testimony offered by two separate officers seems to have made untruthful statements,” Performing ICE Director Todd Lyons stated in an announcement.
“Each officers have been instantly positioned on administrative depart pending the completion of a radical inside investigation. Mendacity underneath oath is a severe federal offense. The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace is actively investigating these false statements,” the assertion stated.
“The women and men of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of legislation and are held to the very best requirements of professionalism, integrity, and moral conduct. Violations of this sacred sworn oath is not going to be tolerated. ICE stays absolutely dedicated to transparency, accountability, and the truthful enforcement of our nation’s immigration legal guidelines,” Lyons added.
US Border Patrol brokers detain an individual close to Roosevelt Excessive College throughout dismissal time in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 7, 2026.
Kerem Yucel/AFP through Getty Photos
The assertion from Lyons comes a day after the highest federal prosecutor in Minnesota requested a choose to dismiss prices towards two males, together with one who was shot within the leg by an immigration agent, citing “newly found proof” in what was initially framed as a “violent” assault on legislation enforcement throughout an enforcement operation.
“Newly found proof on this matter is materially inconsistent with the allegations within the grievance affidavit. … in addition to the preliminary-hearing testimony,” U.S. Lawyer for the District of Minnesota Daniel Rosen wrote within the submitting Wednesday night. It stays unclear what particular new proof Rosen was referencing.
Rosen has requested the court docket to dismiss the case with prejudice, which means the fees can’t be refiled.
“Accordingly, dismissal with prejudice will serve the pursuits of justice,” Rosen wrote.
Within the wake of the taking pictures on Jan. 14 — every week after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis — the Trump administration stated the person who was shot, Julio Cesar Sosa-Selis, attacked a federal legislation enforcement officer with a “shovel or a brush stick” and that the incident was a part of “an try to evade arrest and hinder legislation enforcement.”
Legal professionals for an additional man charged within the incident, Alfredo Aljorna, stated surveillance movies didn’t corroborate the FBI’s claims that an agent was assaulted and stated Sosa-Celis was shot whereas standing at his doorway far away from the officer.
Earlier this month attorneys for Aljorna additionally urged a choose to ban the federal government from deporting key witnesses who they stated forged doubt that an agent was repeatedly struck with a brush or a snow shovel, Choose Paul Magnuson granted the request.
The reversal on the assault prices for Sosa-Celis and Aljorna comes after a number of discrepancies emerged between statements from Division of Homeland Safety officers and particulars outlined in court docket information concerning their arrests.
DHS initially stated in statements to media that officers have been conducting a “focused visitors cease” for Sosa-Celis when he fled in his automobile, crashed into one other automotive and tried to evade arrest. The company alleged that Sosa-Celis “violently” assaulted an officer and that two different people exited a close-by condo and joined the assault “with a snow shovel and broom deal with.”
In accordance with DHS, Sosa-Celis struck the officer with “a shovel or broom stick,” prompting the officer to fireside what the company described as a defensive shot “to defend his life,” putting Sosa-Celis within the leg.
“What we noticed final evening in Minneapolis was an tried homicide of federal legislation enforcement,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated within the Jan. 15 assertion.
Nevertheless, an affidavit from FBI Particular Agent Timothy Schanz, who investigated the taking pictures, acknowledged that ICE Enforcement and Elimination Operations brokers have been making an attempt to cease a unique man recognized as Joffre Stalin Paucar Barrera — not Sosa-Celis — whom they believed was within the nation illegally. In accordance with Schanz, brokers later recognized the driving force DHS brokers stopped as a unique man, Aljorna.
Schanz wrote that Aljorna struck a lightweight pole and fled on foot towards his condo constructing.
Sosa-Celis was allegedly standing on the porch and yelling at Aljorna to run quicker, the affidavit says. Aljorna slipped and allegedly “started tussling” with the agent earlier than Sosa-Celis grabbed a brush and commenced putting the agent, in keeping with the affidavit.
A girl seems on at a memorial for Renee Good who was shot and killed by an ICE agent final month, February 12, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Stephen Maturen/Getty Photos
The agent “then noticed who he believed was a 3rd Hispanic male strategy with a snow shovel, and this male additionally started putting” him, Schanz stated within the affidavit. The third man was recognized as Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez-Ledezma by DHS, who accused him of additionally assaulting the officer.
Sosa-Celis was shot within the leg as he tried to go contained in the condo, the affidavit says.
Video reviewed by ABC Information’ Visible Verification workforce features a 911 name from people recognized as family members of Sosa-Celis, who stated brokers fired as he was making an attempt to shut the door.
After Lyons issued his assertion on Friday, legal professional Brian D. Clark shared a response from the households of Sosa-Celis and Aljorna.
“Julio, Alfredo, and their households are overjoyed at this information. The costs towards them have been primarily based on lies by an ICE agent who recklessly shot into their house via a closed door,” they stated within the assertion. “They’re so comfortable justice is being served by the federal government’s request to dismiss all prices with prejudice. The determine of the ICE agent needs to be made public and he needs to be charged for his crime.”
