The appearing 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 costs for his or her actions.
“Right now, a joint evaluation by ICE and the Division of Justice (DOJ) of video proof has revealed that sworn testimony supplied by two separate officers seems to have made untruthful statements,” Performing ICE Director Todd Lyons mentioned in an announcement.
“Each officers have been instantly positioned on administrative depart pending the completion of a radical inner investigation. Mendacity beneath oath is a critical federal offense. The U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace is actively investigating these false statements,” the assertion mentioned.
“The women and men of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of legislation and are held to the best requirements of professionalism, integrity, and moral conduct. Violations of this sacred sworn oath is not going to be tolerated. ICE stays totally dedicated to transparency, accountability, and the honest enforcement of our nation’s immigration legal guidelines,” Lyons added.
US Border Patrol brokers detain an individual close to Roosevelt Excessive Faculty throughout dismissal time in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 7, 2026.
Kerem Yucel/AFP through Getty Photographs
The assertion from Lyons comes a day after the highest federal prosecutor in Minnesota requested a choose to dismiss costs in opposition to 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. Legal professional 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 courtroom to dismiss the case with prejudice, that 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 mentioned 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 and evade arrest and impede legislation enforcement.”
Attorneys for one more man charged within the incident, Alfredo Aljorna, mentioned surveillance movies didn’t corroborate the FBI’s claims that an agent was assaulted and mentioned 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 mentioned forged doubt that an agent was repeatedly struck with a brush or a snow shovel, Decide Paul Magnuson granted the request.
The reversal on the assault costs for Sosa-Celis and Aljorna comes after a number of discrepancies emerged between statements from Division of Homeland Safety officers and particulars outlined in courtroom data concerning their arrests.
DHS initially mentioned in statements to media that officers had been conducting a “focused visitors cease” for Sosa-Celis when he fled in his automobile, crashed into one other automobile and tried to evade arrest. The company alleged that Sosa-Celis “violently” assaulted an officer and that two different people exited a close-by house and joined the assault “with a snow shovel and broom deal with.”
Based on 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,” hanging Sosa-Celis within the leg.
“What we noticed final night time in Minneapolis was an tried homicide of federal legislation enforcement,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned within the Jan. 15 assertion.
Nonetheless, an affidavit from FBI Particular Agent Timothy Schanz, who investigated the taking pictures, acknowledged that ICE Enforcement and Elimination Operations brokers had been trying to cease a distinct man recognized as Joffre Stalin Paucar Barrera — not Sosa-Celis — whom they believed was within the nation illegally. Based on Schanz, brokers later recognized the driving force DHS brokers stopped as a distinct man, Aljorna.
Schanz wrote that Aljorna struck a lightweight pole and fled on foot towards his house 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 hanging the agent, in keeping with the affidavit.
A girl seems to be 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 Photographs
The agent “then noticed who he believed was a 3rd Hispanic male strategy with a snow shovel, and this male additionally started hanging” him, Schanz mentioned 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 house, the affidavit says.
Video reviewed by ABC Information’ Visible Verification staff features a 911 name from people recognized as kinfolk of Sosa-Celis, who mentioned brokers fired as he was trying to shut the door.
After Lyons issued his assertion on Friday, lawyer 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 in opposition to them had been based mostly on lies by an ICE agent who recklessly shot into their house by means of a closed door,” they mentioned within the assertion. “They’re so blissful justice is being served by the federal government’s request to dismiss all costs with prejudice. The determine of the ICE agent must be made public and he must be charged for his crime.”
