Authorities Probe ICE Arrest That Left Mexican Man With Skull Fractures

FBI and St. Paul police investigating incident where Mexican citizen suffered serious injuries during ICE apprehension.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Minnesota and federal authorities are investigating an alleged beating of a Mexican citizen by immigration officers last month, seeking to identify what caused the eight skull fractures that landed the man in the intensive care unit of a Minneapolis hospital. ICE has claimed the man was injured when he attempted to flee while handcuffed and 'fell and hit his head against a concrete wall,' but hospital staff and the man's lawyers dispute this account.

Why it matters

The incident has raised concerns about the use of force by immigration enforcement officers and allegations of racial profiling. It also comes amid other federal investigations into potential misconduct by ICE agents in Minnesota.

The details

According to the report, investigators from the St. Paul Police Department and FBI canvassed the shopping center parking lot where Alberto Castañeda Mondragón says ICE agents wrested him from a vehicle, threw him to the ground and repeatedly struck him in the head with a steel baton. ICE has blamed Castañeda Mondragón for his own injuries, but hospital staff and his lawyers say his injuries are inconsistent with a fall. Authorities are seeking surveillance footage from nearby businesses, but some footage may have been overwritten before law enforcement requested it.

  • On January 8, 2026, ICE agents arrested Castañeda Mondragón.
  • Castañeda Mondragón was hospitalized with eight skull fractures and a brain hemorrhage.
  • In early February 2026, local and federal investigators began canvassing the arrest location and seeking surveillance footage.

The players

Alberto Castañeda Mondragón

A 31-year-old Mexican citizen who was allegedly beaten by ICE agents during his arrest, resulting in eight skull fractures and a brain hemorrhage.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that conducted the arrest of Castañeda Mondragón, claiming he was injured when he attempted to flee while handcuffed.

St. Paul Police Department

The local law enforcement agency investigating the incident alongside the FBI.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

The federal law enforcement agency also investigating the incident alongside the St. Paul Police Department.

John Choi

The chief prosecutor of Ramsey County, who stated he expects to investigate past and future allegations of criminal conduct by federal agents.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.