In a shocking turn of events, the Department of Justice has dropped charges against two men accused of assaulting ICE officers in Minneapolis, citing evidence that completely contradicts the officers' accounts. But here's where it gets controversial: What really happened that night, and why are the details so murky? Let’s dive into the story that’s raising eyebrows and sparking debates nationwide.
By Jacob Rosen, Justice Department Reporter
Jacob Rosen is a seasoned journalist specializing in the Department of Justice. Previously, he covered President Trump’s 2024 campaign as a digital reporter and served as an associate producer for Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan. For more on Jacob, visit his full bio here.
Published February 12, 2026 / 8:37 PM EST / CBS News
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In a surprising move, the Justice Department has dismissed federal charges against Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, two men accused of assaulting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minneapolis last month. The decision comes after prosecutors cited newly discovered evidence that directly contradicts the officers' version of events. Notably, Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan defendant, was shot in the leg by an ICE officer during the incident, which drew national attention amid heightened tensions over federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
The motion to dismiss, filed by U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Daniel Rosen, was entered on Thursday and includes a with prejudice clause, meaning the charges cannot be refiled. This rare move underscores the severity of the inconsistencies in the case.
In January, Aljorna and Sosa-Celis were charged in a federal criminal complaint with forcibly assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers during the performance of their duties. The incident gained widespread attention after Sosa-Celis was shot by an ICE officer, fueling debates about the use of force in immigration enforcement. But this is the part most people miss: The government’s own accounts of what happened that night were riddled with contradictions.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Sosa-Celis fled a targeted traffic stop in Minneapolis, crashed into a parked car, and continued to flee on foot. When an ICE agent caught up to him, two men allegedly attacked the agent with a broom handle and snow shovel. DHS claimed the officer fired a defensive shot to protect himself. However, this narrative was quickly challenged by conflicting reports.
In an FBI affidavit supporting the charges, agents claimed that Aljorna—not Sosa-Celis—fled the scene in a car. The affidavit also stated that Sosa-Celis was the first to strike the ICE officer with a broomstick while the officer attempted to arrest Aljorna. The document further noted that the officer struggled to see clearly due to poor or sporadic lighting, raising questions about the reliability of their account.
Adding another layer of complexity, a cellphone video shared online by a state lawmaker shows a woman telling a 911 operator that her husband was chased by ICE agents before being shot in front of his family. This firsthand account directly contradicts the DHS version of events.
Frederick Goetz, attorney for Aljorna, expressed relief over the dismissal, stating, 'I’m delighted by the decision and commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for doing the right thing.' Goetz further revealed that video surveillance evidence played a pivotal role in the case, showing that the officers' claims of assault were not supported by the footage.
CBS News has reached out to the Justice Department and Sosa-Celis’s attorney for comment but has not yet received a response.
The incident occurred just a week after ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good in south Minneapolis and 10 days before two DHS agents fatally shot Alex Pretti in the same city. These shootings sparked massive protests across Minnesota, with thousands taking to the streets and tensions escalating in the Twin Cities.
At the height of the unrest, President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy the military to Minnesota. However, in a recent development, border czar Tom Homan announced the end of the surge of immigration agents in the state, citing a high number of public safety arrests during Operation Metro Surge and a reduced need for federal officers to address agitators.
But here’s the bigger question: How often do inconsistencies in law enforcement accounts go unnoticed, and what does this case reveal about the need for transparency and accountability? Share your thoughts in the comments below—we want to hear from you!
