DOJ Investigating ICE Agents Who Made ‘Untruthful Statements’ About Shooting of Illegal Immigrant in Minneapolis

Two Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents appear to have made “untruthful statements” after an agent shot an illegal immigrant during an enforcement operation in Minnesota last month, according to Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons.

The agents initially said three illegal immigrants from Venezuela ambushed and violently attacked an agent during a targeted traffic stop in Minneapolis, leading the agent to shoot one of the men, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, in the leg.

Now, the two agents may face federal charges for lying about the incident under oath.

“Today, a joint review by ICE and the Department of Justice (DOJ) of video evidence has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements,” Lyons said in a statement.

“Both officers have been immediately placed on administrative leave pending the completion of a thorough internal investigation. Lying under oath is a serious federal offense. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is actively investigating these false statements,” the statement said.

“The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct. Violations of this sacred sworn oath will not be tolerated. ICE remains fully committed to transparency, accountability, and the fair enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws,” Lyons added.

The update came one day after Daniel Rosen, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, asked a judge to dismiss charges against Sosa-Celis and Alfredo Aljorna due to “newly discovered evidence” that is “materially inconsistent with the allegations in the complaint affidavit. … as well as the preliminary-hearing testimony.”  

“Accordingly, dismissal with prejudice will serve the interests of justice,” Rosen wrote.

Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the interaction between the ICE agent and the three men “an attempted murder of federal law enforcement.”

DHS officials initially said agents were attempting to arrest Sosa-Celis when he fled the scene in his vehicle, crashed into a parked car, and fled on foot. The agent pursued Sosa-Celis on foot and was able to catch up to him, at which point he began to resist arrest and violently assault the officer, the earlier DHS statement claimed.

As the pair struggled on the ground, two more illegal immigrants came out of a nearby apartment and attacked the agent with a snow shovel and a broom handle, DHS claimed at the time. The ambush allowed Sosa-Celis to escape restraint, at which point he too began striking the officer with either a shovel or a broomstick, the agency said.

DHS said last month that the agent was fearing for his life when he shot Sosa-Celis in the leg.

However, lawyers for Aljorna argued surveillance videos did not corroborate the Trump administration’s claims that an agent was assaulted. Additionally, Aljorna’s attorneys said Sosa-Celis was shot while standing at his doorway, far away from the officer. A 911 call from Sosa-Celis’s relatives similarly indicated agents fired as he was attempting to close the door, according to ABC News.

His attorneys also asked a judge last month to stop the government from deporting key witnesses in the case, who refuted claims that an agent was repeatedly assaulted with a broom or a snow shovel. A judge approved the request.

The two men and their families are “overjoyed” the charges against them have been dropped, attorney Brian D. Clark said in a statement.

“Julio, Alfredo, and their families are overjoyed at this news. The charges against them were based on lies by an ICE agent who recklessly shot into their home through a closed door,” they said in the statement. “They are so happy justice is being served by the government’s request to dismiss all charges with prejudice. The identity of the ICE agent should be made public and he should be charged for his crime.”