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Perjury Probe Targets ICE Officers in Minneapolis Shooting After Video Undercuts Account

Video evidence prompted prosecutors to drop the assault case, triggering criminal and internal reviews of the officers’ sworn statements.

Overview

  • A federal judge dismissed with prejudice the assault case against Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and Alfredo Aljorna after prosecutors said newly discovered surveillance video contradicted the allegations.
  • A joint ICE and Justice Department review found two officers’ sworn accounts appeared untruthful, leading the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota to open a criminal investigation.
  • ICE placed both officers on administrative leave pending outcomes that could include termination or prosecution.
  • DHS initially described the Jan. 14 encounter as an ambush involving a shovel and a broom, a narrative challenged by witness accounts and footage.
  • Broader reviews of other Operation Metro Surge shootings remain active, and three people were indicted for allegedly sending threats to FBI agents after personnel data were posted online.