AP Report Details Severe Head Injuries in St. Paul ICE Arrest, Prompting Calls for Investigation

Overview

• Alberto Castañeda Mondragón, 31, told the Associated Press that ICE agents pulled him from a car on Jan. 8 in St. Paul, handcuffed him, and struck his head with a telescoping baton.
• CT scans documented fractures to the front, back, and both sides of his skull and multiple brain hemorrhages that a treating doctor said were inconsistent with a fall.
• ICE initially told hospital staff he ran headfirst into a wall; a Jan. 20 government filing later acknowledged a head injury requiring emergency care and stated he had overstayed a visa after entering legally in 2022.
• A federal judge found the arrest unlawful and ordered his release, while Minnesota officials including Gov. Tim Walz, Sen. Tina Smith, and Rep. Betty McCollum pressed for investigations.
• The administration announced a body-camera rollout for immigration officers in Minneapolis this week, though it remains unclear whether this arrest or the detention center was recorded.