DOJ Drops Charges After New Evidence Undermines ICE Officers' Account in Minneapolis Shooting

Federal prosecutors have dismissed, with prejudice, criminal charges against two men accused of assaulting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minneapolis after discovering new evidence that contradicted the government’s original account.

Charges Withdrawn After Video and New Evidence

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota filed a motion Thursday asking the court to dismiss the case against Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa‑Celis. A judge granted the dismissal on Friday. The Justice Department said the motion cited "newly discovered evidence" that was "materially inconsistent" with earlier allegations.

ICE Officers Under Investigation

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said two ICE officers have been placed on administrative leave while officials review video evidence that appears to contradict sworn testimony provided by those officers.

"Upon conclusion of the investigation, the officers may face termination of employment, as well as potential criminal prosecution," Lyons said.

Conflicting Accounts

Accounts of the incident differed from the start. The Department of Homeland Security initially said Julio Sosa‑Celis fled a targeted traffic stop, crashed into a parked vehicle, ran on foot and — along with two others — attacked an ICE agent with a broom handle and a snow shovel, prompting an officer to fire a shot. DHS described the shot as "defensive".

But an FBI affidavit filed to support federal charges presented a different sequence: agents alleged Alfredo Aljorna, not Sosa‑Celis, fled the scene in a car, and that Sosa‑Celis first struck the officer with a broomstick while agents attempted to arrest Aljorna. The affidavit also noted poor lighting at the scene and said the officer had difficulty seeing the assailants.

A cellphone video shared online by a state lawmaker shows a woman telling a 911 operator that her husband was chased by ICE agents and shot in front of his family shortly after returning home. Prosecutors say surveillance and other evidence were materially inconsistent with the agents' claims.

Defense Reaction

Frederick Goetz, attorney for Aljorna, said he was "delighted" the charges were dismissed with prejudice and praised the U.S. Attorney's Office for "doing the right thing." Goetz said video surveillance contradicted the agent's statements that he had been assaulted.

Robin Wolpert, attorney for Sosa‑Celis, said her client is relieved the federal case is over and intends to "seek justice and hold the ICE officer accountable for his unlawful conduct." Wolpert added that the officers' alleged untruthful statements had "serious consequences" for her client and his family.

Context And Next Steps

The shooting occurred amid heightened tensions in Minneapolis after earlier fatal shootings involving federal agents. In the wake of recent incidents and large protests, federal officials briefly surged immigration enforcement personnel into the state under "Operation Metro Surge." Border czar Tom Homan later announced the end of the surge, citing a high number of public-safety arrests and a reduced need to respond to agitators.

ICE and the Justice Department are continuing their internal and criminal reviews. CBS News said it reached out to the Justice Department for comment.