US Prosecutors Drop Charges Against Venezuelan Men in ICE Shooting Case
Federal prosecutors in Minneapolis have moved to drop felony assault charges against two Venezuelan men, including one who was shot in the leg by an immigration officer, after newly discovered evidence emerged that undermines the government's version of events. In a filing on Thursday, the US attorney's office for the district of Minnesota stated that the evidence in the criminal case against Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis is materially inconsistent with the allegations made against them in a criminal complaint and a court hearing last month.
Motion for Dismissal with Prejudice
The government's motion requested the judge for dismissal with prejudice, meaning the charges against Aljorna and Sosa-Celis cannot be resubmitted. This development follows a series of high-profile shootings involving federal immigration agents where eyewitness statements and video evidence have challenged justifications for using deadly force. Additionally, numerous felony cases against protesters accused of assaulting or impeding federal officers have collapsed in recent times.
Incident Details and Contradictions
The case stems from a 14 January incident where an FBI investigator alleged in an affidavit that ICE officers attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Aljorna, who crashed and fled on foot toward an apartment complex. According to the government's initial claims, as an immigration officer chased and tried to arrest Aljorna, he violently resisted. The complaint further alleged that Sosa-Celis and another man emerged from a nearby apartment and attacked the officer with a snow shovel and a broom handle, prompting the officer to fire his handgun, striking Sosa-Celis in the upper right thigh. The men then fled into a nearby apartment, where they were later arrested.
However, cracks in the government's case became apparent during a 21 January court hearing to determine if the accused men could be released pending trial. In court, the ICE officer's account of the moments before the shooting significantly differed from testimony provided by the two defendants and three other witnesses. Moreover, the ICE officer's claim of being assaulted with a broom and snow shovel was not corroborated by available video evidence.
Defense Arguments and New Evidence
Aljorna and Sosa-Celis denied assaulting the agent with a broom or snow shovel. Video evidence and testimony from a neighbor and the men's romantic partners did not support the agent's account of an attack with these objects or the involvement of a third person. Aljorna's attorney, Frederick Goetz, explained that Aljorna had a broomstick in his hand and threw it at the agent as he ran toward the house. Sosa-Celis' attorney, Robin Wolpert, stated that his client was holding a shovel but was retreating into the home when the officer fired, wounding him. The defense argued that the prosecution's case relied entirely on testimony from the agent who fired the gun.
Neither Aljorna nor Sosa-Celis had violent criminal records. Both had been working as DoorDash delivery drivers at night to avoid encounters with federal agents, according to their attorneys. After retreating into a nearby home, they and their families barricaded the upstairs door to prevent federal agents from entering, as reported by an FBI agent. Federal officers then used teargas in an attempt to force the family out, and out of concern for the safety of two children under the age of two inside the home, Aljorna and Sosa-Celis surrendered to authorities.
The pending dismissal highlights ongoing tensions and scrutiny over ICE operations and the use of force by federal agents in Minnesota and beyond.
