Video evidence is forcing ICE to admit that two federal officers may have lied under oath—an accountability test that matters to every American who expects law enforcement power to be used legally and truthfully.
Story Snapshot
- ICE says two officers made “untruthful statements” in sworn accounts tied to a January 14 shooting of Venezuelan migrant Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis.
- Federal prosecutors dropped charges against Alfredo Aljorna and Sosa-Celis after a video review contradicted the initial narrative of an “ambush” and assault.
- The incident occurred during Operation Metro Surge, a Trump-era enforcement push that brought thousands of agents to Minnesota and drew intense scrutiny.
- A joint ICE-DOJ review triggered administrative leave for the officers and a criminal perjury probe, with possible termination or prosecution.
What ICE Now Concedes After Reviewing the Video
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said February 13 that two officers involved in the January 14 Minneapolis operation appear to have made “untruthful statements” after ICE and the Justice Department reviewed video tied to the case.
Lyons emphasized that lying under oath is a serious federal offense. ICE placed the officers on administrative leave while a criminal investigation proceeds, and officials acknowledged that the video review has changed how the incident is being handled.
The shooting happened after officers attempted a targeted traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Alfredo Aljorna, a Venezuelan immigrant, according to reporting summarized by multiple outlets.
After Aljorna crashed, officers pursued him toward an apartment building. DHS initially framed the confrontation as an ambush by three immigrants using improvised weapons such as a snow shovel and a broom handle, portraying the gunfire as self-defense.
Charges Dropped as the Federal Narrative Collapsed in Court
U.S. Attorney Dan Rosen’s office dismissed charges against both Aljorna and Sosa-Celis on February 12, one day before ICE publicly addressed the “untruthful statements.” Reporting indicates the dropped charges followed a review of video and other evidence that undermined the affidavits supporting the case.
Defense attorneys said their clients were relieved, while also pressing for more disclosure about who fired and whether any officer will face charges.
Key factual details remain limited because the underlying video has not been fully released in the cited reporting. Even so, the basic sequence is clear: a traffic stop attempt, a crash, a foot chase, and then gunfire that struck Sosa-Celis in the leg. One especially serious allegation reported by outlets is that Sosa-Celis was shot through a closed door, a claim central to why the sworn statements are now being questioned.
ICE says 2 of its officers may have lied under oath about shooting migrant in Minnesota https://t.co/9sxt1vzBg0
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) February 15, 2026
Operation Metro Surge Put Minneapolis Under a Federal Pressure Cooker
The shooting occurred during Operation Metro Surge, a Trump administration enforcement initiative that began in December 2025 and sent roughly 3,000 federal agents into Minnesota.
White House border czar Tom Homan said the operation produced more than 4,000 detentions. For many conservatives, aggressive enforcement is a necessary response to years of lax border policies; for the rule of law to endure, however, it also demands strict honesty in reporting and testimony.
Operation Metro Surge ended amid scrutiny that included reporting about two U.S. citizen deaths linked to the broader operation, though the provided sources do not connect those deaths directly to the January 14 shooting.
That context matters because large-scale enforcement surges inevitably raise the stakes: mistakes, poor tactics, or false statements do more than harm a single case—they can damage public trust and give political opponents ammunition to discredit border enforcement as a whole.
Kristi Noem’s Early Claims Collide With Later Federal Admissions
After the shooting, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly blamed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of encouraging attacks on federal officers. That political blast fit a broader national argument about “sanctuary” style governance and soft-on-crime leadership.
But ICE’s later admission that officers may have lied under oath narrows the focus back to a simpler question: what actually happened at the door, and why did sworn accounts not match the video?
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said officers are held to high standards and that violations are not tolerated. From a conservative perspective, that principle is essential precisely because federal agencies wield immense power: arrests, firearms, and courtroom testimony can change lives.
If sworn statements were false, accountability protects not only migrants or defendants, but also honest agents, lawful enforcement operations, and public confidence in constitutional government.
Sources:
DHS says immigration agents appear to have lied about shooting in Minnesota
