Newly released surveillance footage has contradicted the accounts of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers involved in a shooting in Minneapolis, casting further doubt on the agency's credibility. The incident, which occurred on 14 January during a crackdown on unauthorised immigrants, left two Venezuelan men charged with assaulting a federal officer, but the prosecution later collapsed.
The video shows Alfredo Aljorna fleeing from a car chase before his roommate, Julio Sosa Celis, stood at an apartment entrance holding a snow shovel. ICE officers claimed they were attacked with a broom and shovel, prompting them to fire a shot. However, the footage does not support these claims, according to reports.
This is the third time video evidence has undermined ICE's narrative of a shooting in Minneapolis, following the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti. Those incidents prompted a reshuffle at the Department of Homeland Security amid falling public support for mass deportations.
ICE Director Todd Lyons has now placed the officers on administrative leave and stated they may face dismissal or criminal prosecution for making false statements. “Lying under oath is a serious federal offence,” an ICE spokesperson said, adding that the US attorney's office is investigating.
Experts view this as a potential turning point for accountability. Muzaffar Chishti of the Migration Policy Institute told the Guardian that Minnesota could be a major inflection point. However, Gabe Sanchez of the Brookings Institution cautioned it might only be “baby steps” so far.
