Federal Prosecutors Move To Drop Charges In Minneapolis ICE Shooting Case
4 weeks ago
Federal prosecutors in Minneapolis have asked a judge to drop felony assault charges against two Venezuelan men accused of attacking an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during a January incident, court documents show.
In a filing Thursday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota said “newly discovered evidence” in the case against Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa‑Celis is “materially inconsistent with the allegations” outlined in the original complaint. Prosecutors are seeking dismissal with prejudice, meaning the charges cannot be refiled.
The charges stemmed from an altercation on Jan. 14 in north Minneapolis, where an ICE officer shot Sosa‑Celis in the leg. Initial statements from the Department of Homeland Security said the men attacked the officer with a broom and snow shovel during a traffic stop. However, video and eyewitness accounts later contradicted the government’s version of events, prompting prosecutors to re‑evaluate the case.
The motion to dismiss comes amid intense scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics in Minnesota, where high‑profile shootings of civilians by federal agents have drawn protests and legal challenges.
In a filing Thursday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota said “newly discovered evidence” in the case against Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa‑Celis is “materially inconsistent with the allegations” outlined in the original complaint. Prosecutors are seeking dismissal with prejudice, meaning the charges cannot be refiled.
The charges stemmed from an altercation on Jan. 14 in north Minneapolis, where an ICE officer shot Sosa‑Celis in the leg. Initial statements from the Department of Homeland Security said the men attacked the officer with a broom and snow shovel during a traffic stop. However, video and eyewitness accounts later contradicted the government’s version of events, prompting prosecutors to re‑evaluate the case.
The motion to dismiss comes amid intense scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics in Minnesota, where high‑profile shootings of civilians by federal agents have drawn protests and legal challenges.
