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Minneapolis releases footage of January migrant shooting
City officials published surveillance video on Monday showing the moments before a Venezuelan migrant was shot by ICE agents, raising questions about the federal agency's initial narrative of the incident.
Initial ICE account disputed by footage
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initially stated that an officer fired at Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis after being attacked with a shovel and broom handle during a struggle. The agency claimed the officer acted in self-defense, fearing for his life as three individuals allegedly ambushed him.
However, grainy city-owned camera footage-shot from a distance-appears to contradict key details. The video shows Sosa-Celis discarding a shovel before any physical contact with agents, and no clear evidence of an assault with the tool. The struggle itself appears brief, with no prolonged altercation visible.
Charges dropped after inconsistencies emerge
Federal charges against Sosa-Celis and another migrant, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, were dismissed in February. ICE officials later acknowledged that two agents may have provided false statements about the incident.
The DHS had initially described the shooting as occurring after a car chase involving an undocumented Venezuelan national. The agency's statement claimed the officer fired "defensive shots" while under attack, but the video fails to support this version of events.
Timeline and investigations
The January 14 confrontation began when agents pursued Sosa-Celis after a vehicle stop. The released footage shows him running toward a house, falling, and briefly grappling with officers before being shot in the leg.
The New York Times reported that federal investigators had access to the video within hours of the shooting but did not review it until nearly three weeks later-after charges had already been filed. The two unnamed officers involved were placed on administrative leave, and both internal and criminal investigations remain ongoing.
Mayor criticizes federal response
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issued a statement calling the video evidence "crystal clear," asserting that the federal government's account "does not match the facts." The incident is part of a broader pattern of violent encounters involving ICE agents in the city, which has faced heightened immigration enforcement under federal policies.
The city released the footage without additional context, stating it would not comment further at this time.
Broader context of ICE operations
The shooting has drawn comparisons to other high-profile cases, including the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good by ICE agents. These incidents have fueled protests in Minneapolis, one of several cities targeted by the Trump administration's immigration crackdowns.
