Immigrant alleges unprovoked beating by ICE agents, leaving him with severe injuries

Alberto Castañeda Mondragón says he was attacked by immigration officers, resulting in eight skull fractures and brain hemorrhages.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Alberto Castañeda Mondragón, a Mexican immigrant living in Minnesota, says he was severely beaten by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during an arrest last month, leaving him with eight skull fractures and five life-threatening brain hemorrhages. Castañeda Mondragón claims the agents pulled him from a car, threw him to the ground, handcuffed him, and then punched him and struck his head with a steel baton. He says the beating continued even after he was taken to an ICE detention facility, where the agents "laughed at me and hit me again." Castañeda Mondragón, who has no criminal record, was later released from the hospital but faces a long recovery and an uncertain future.

Why it matters

Castañeda Mondragón's case is one of a growing number of excessive-force claims against ICE agents, raising concerns about the agency's treatment of immigrants and the lack of accountability for such incidents. His injuries have also sparked calls for investigations into the alleged abuse and the conditions at ICE detention facilities.

The details

According to Castañeda Mondragón, the incident occurred on January 8th when ICE agents pulled him from a friend's car outside a shopping center in St. Paul, Minnesota. He says the agents threw him to the ground, handcuffed him, and then began punching him and striking his head with a steel baton, an action that medical experts say is considered potentially deadly force. Castañeda Mondragón says the beating continued even after he was taken to an ICE detention facility at Fort Snelling, where the agents "laughed at me and hit me again." A doctor who reviewed Castañeda Mondragón's injuries said the skull fractures and brain hemorrhages were inconsistent with an accidental fall or running into a wall, as ICE agents claimed.

  • On January 8th, ICE agents arrested Castañeda Mondragón outside a shopping center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
  • Castañeda Mondragón was taken to an emergency room in Edina, Minnesota, about four hours after his arrest.
  • Castañeda Mondragón was then transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, where he was hospitalized for nearly three weeks.

The players

Alberto Castañeda Mondragón

A 31-year-old Mexican immigrant living in Minnesota who was severely beaten by ICE agents during his arrest, leaving him with eight skull fractures and five life-threatening brain hemorrhages.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for Castañeda Mondragón's arrest and the alleged beating, which has faced growing criticism over its use of force and treatment of immigrants.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“There was never a wall. The only time a person can be struck in the head with any baton is when the person presents the same threat that would permit the use of a firearm — a lethal threat to the officer or others.”

— Joe Key, Former Baltimore police lieutenant and use-of-force expert (AP)

“Law enforcement cannot be lawless. Thousands of aggressive, untrained agents of the federal government continue to injure and terrorize Minnesotans. This must end.”

— Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota (X)

What’s next

Castañeda Mondragón plans to file a police report to prompt an investigation into the incident, and Minnesota congressional leaders and other elected officials have called for a full investigation into his injuries and the alleged abuse by ICE agents.

The takeaway

Castañeda Mondragón's case highlights the growing concerns over the use of excessive force by ICE agents and the lack of accountability for such incidents, as well as the broader issues of immigration enforcement and the treatment of immigrants in the United States.