Video Contradicts ICE Claims in Minneapolis Shooting

Footage shows agents were lying about the incident that left a Venezuelan man wounded

Apr. 7, 2026 at 6:23am

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An extreme close-up of a spent bullet casing on a dark concrete surface, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the investigation into the disputed details of the Minneapolis shooting incident.The release of video evidence contradicting ICE's account of a Minneapolis shooting has sparked a nationwide review of immigration enforcement tactics.Minneapolis Today

Video evidence released by Minneapolis officials contradicts the account provided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents about a shooting incident in January. The footage shows ICE agents chasing two men, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julia Cesar Sosa-Celis, before an agent fired a shot that struck Sosa-Celis in the thigh. This contradicts the agents' claims that the men had attacked them with a snow shovel and broom handle.

Why it matters

The shooting was one of three that occurred during an ICE immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, raising concerns about the agency's tactics and transparency. The release of the video footage has led to charges against the two men being dropped and a shift in how the Department of Homeland Security conducts such operations nationwide.

The details

The video shows an ICE agent chasing Aljorna and Sosa-Celis, who dropped a snow shovel as they approached a house. Aljorna then slipped before both men ran inside, at which point the agent fired in their direction, striking Sosa-Celis. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the video clearly showed the agents were lying about the incident.

  • The shooting occurred in January 2026 during an ICE immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
  • The video footage was released by Minneapolis officials on April 7, 2026.

The players

Julia Cesar Sosa-Celis

A Venezuelan man who was shot in the thigh by an ICE agent during the incident.

Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna

A man who was with Sosa-Celis and accused of attacking an ICE agent, though the video contradicts this claim.

Jacob Frey

The mayor of Minneapolis, who said the video footage showed the ICE agents were lying about the incident.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for the immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis that led to the shooting.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal department that oversees ICE and has shifted its enforcement tactics nationwide in the wake of the Minneapolis shootings.

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What they’re saying

“Bare due diligence would have shown that the agents were lying.”

— Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis

What’s next

Prosecutors have dropped the charges against Sosa-Celis and Aljorna, and the Department of Homeland Security is expected to review its immigration enforcement tactics nationwide in the wake of the Minneapolis shootings.

The takeaway

The release of the video footage in this case has raised serious questions about the transparency and accountability of ICE agents, leading to a shift in how the Department of Homeland Security conducts immigration enforcement operations across the country.