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By Dan Gooding and Peter Aitken
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The U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota moved to dismiss charges against two Venezuelan men, one of whom was shot by an immigration officer, after "newly discovered evidence" emerged.
Prosecutor Daniel N. Rosen said that the new evidence is "inconsistent with the allegations" leveled against Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. Judge Paul A. Magnuson agreed and dismissed the case against the men without prejudice, which prevents any new charges in the same case.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said Friday that both agents in question in the case were being investigated for potentially lying under oath, Politico reported.
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Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for further comment on Friday afternoon. The Department of Justice declined to comment. An email to the U.S. Attorney's Office for Minnesota received an automatic reply that the office is without a public information officer.
Why It Matters
While the dismissal marks a rare climbdown by the Trump administration, it highlights wider issues that have appeared time and again in legal challenges and prosecutions tied to immigration enforcement operations in recent months: that the U.S. Department of Justice is stretched thin, and prosecutors are walking a fine line between meeting White House expectations and sticking to legal precedent.
Minnesota, in particular, has seen FBI and DOJ officials resign or lose their jobs over these tensions in recent months.
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What To Know
Aljorna was charged after he allegedly crashed his vehicle during an attempted traffic stop and fled on foot on January 14, with officers alleging he had violently resisted arrest. Sosa-Celis and another man then allegedly tried to interview by attacking the officer with a shovel and broom handle, according to an FBI investigator's affidavit. At this point, Sosa-Celis was shot in the leg by a federal agent, before fleeing into a nearby apartment, before being detained.
After the initial incident, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) blamed local Democratic leaders for encouraging locals to impede federal law enforcement.
“What we saw last night in Minneapolis was an attempted murder of federal law enforcement," Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a January 15 statement. “Our officer was ambushed and attacked by three individuals who beat him with snow shovels and the handles of brooms. Fearing for his life, the officer fired a defensive shot.”
In a one-page filing Thursday evening, Rosen said his office had discovered new evidence that did not match the original description of events, leading the government to drop the case. Cracks had appeared in the case during a January 21 hearing, when an ICE agent's account differed from those given by the two defendants and three eyewitnesses.
A lawyer for the two men said their families were "overjoyed" by the outcome: A conviction would have put both men in prison for years.
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Federal Agents Under Investigation
Later Friday, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said in a statement that DHS and the DOJ had reviewed video evidence from the scene. During that review, the departments determined that both officers appeared to have made "untruthful statements".
Both officers had been placed on administrative leave, pending a full review, Lyons said. The U.S. Attorney's Office was investigating the allegations.
Lyons also insisted that ICE was committed to "transparency, accountability, and the fair enforcement of our nation's immigration laws".
What People Are Saying
Todd Lyons, Acting ICE Director, in a statement to Politico: "Upon conclusion of the investigation, the officers may face termination of employment, as well as potential criminal prosecution. The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct. Violations of this sacred sworn oath will not be tolerated."
Brian D. Clark, a lawyer for the two men, told the Associated Press: “The charges against them were based on lies by an ICE agent who recklessly shot into their home through a closed door. They are so happy justice is being served by the government’s request to dismiss all charges with prejudice.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz wrote on X following the incident in January: "State investigators have been on the scene in North Minneapolis. I know you’re angry. I’m angry. What Donald Trump wants is violence in the streets. But Minnesota will remain an island of decency, of justice, of community, and of peace. Don’t give him what he wants."
What Happens Next
The Trump administration has now announcedit will wind down its enforcement operation in Minnesota, following weeks of clashes with locals that have left two U.S. citizens dead.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.
Update 2/13/26, 1:51 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 2/13/26, 2:43 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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