Charges Dropped Against Two Men in Minneapolis ICE Incident

The government will not continue with charges against two men, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. They were accused of hurting an ICE officer in Minneapolis. The government said new evidence did not match the first stories, so they are dropping the case.
By Newsroom | Crime, Minneapolis |

The U.S. Justice Department is moving to dismiss charges against two men, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who were accused of assaulting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis. The decision comes after new evidence emerged that reportedly contradicts the initial accounts provided by law enforcement. This development is occurring against a backdrop of increased immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota and several other recent incidents involving federal agents in the city.

The core issue is the conflicting evidence regarding the alleged assault and the events leading up to the ICE officer's shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.

The incident began on January 12, 2026, during what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described as a targeted traffic stop of Sosa-Celis. According to DHS, Sosa-Celis sped away, crashed his vehicle, and then fled on foot. During the subsequent encounter, an ICE officer shot Sosa-Celis, who was reportedly not the initial target of the stop.

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Subsequently, Aljorna and Sosa-Celis were accused of assaulting the ICE officer with a broom handle and snow shovel. However, inconsistencies have arisen concerning the sequence of events and the identities of those involved.

Conflicting Accounts of the Alleged Assault

The initial FBI affidavit, used to support the charges, contained conflicting information. One account suggested that Sosa-Celis broke free and began striking the officer with a broomstick, while another part of the same affidavit stated that Aljorna fled the scene in a car and then allegedly attacked the ICE officer with the same broomstick.

  • Defense claims: Defense attorneys have argued that the prosecution's case relied heavily on the ICE officer's account.

  • Corroboration issues: They contend that video evidence and witness testimony do not support the officer's claim of being attacked with a broom or shovel.

Background of Increased Enforcement and Officer-Involved Shootings

The events in Minneapolis are occurring within a broader context of heightened immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump's administration had initiated a significant surge of immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota. This period also saw other notable incidents involving federal law enforcement:

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Justice department moves to drop charges against men accused of hitting ICE officer in Minnesota - 1

  • Renee Good shooting: The alleged assault occurred a week after an ICE agent, Jonathan Ross, fatally shot Renee Good in south Minneapolis. This incident sparked widespread protests.

  • Alex Pretti shooting: Ten days after the alleged assault on the ICE officer, two DHS agents fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Tom Homan, identified as Trump's border czar, stated that President Trump had agreed to end his "deportation surge" in Minnesota.

Justice Department's Decision to Drop Charges

The U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Minnesota has requested the court to dismiss the charges against Aljorna and Sosa-Celis. This move is a direct result of "newly discovered evidence" that allegedly contradicts the complaint affidavit.

  • The government's narrative of the alleged assault was deemed "inconsistent," leading to the decision to withdraw the charges.

  • For Sosa-Celis and Aljorna, the dismissal represents a significant outcome after facing accusations.

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The situation also raises questions about the initial evidence gathering and reporting by federal agencies in the context of the Minneapolis ICE shooting.

Broader Scrutiny of Federal Agent Accounts

This case is not isolated. Reports indicate that other cases have emerged where video evidence has contradicted federal agents' accounts. This pattern suggests a need for thorough review and corroboration of evidence in cases involving allegations against individuals and actions by federal officers. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson had previously questioned prosecutors regarding the timing of the shot fired by the ICE officer.

  • Timing of events: The timeline of the traffic stop, the chase, the alleged assault, and the shooting is central to the differing accounts.

  • Driver identity: One account suggested a different individual was the driver of the car involved in the traffic stop, not Sosa-Celis, and that this driver was the sole occupant. This driver reportedly crashed and fled to an apartment building where Sosa-Celis was present.

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The dismissal of charges against Aljorna and Sosa-Celis highlights the critical importance of verified evidence in legal proceedings. The findings are expected to have implications for how similar cases are investigated and prosecuted.

Sources Used:

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Note: Article 6 (ABC News) was not fully utilized as its summary primarily focused on broader protest and enforcement updates rather than the specifics of the dropped charges, and its publication date was significantly earlier than the others directly reporting on the dismissal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why were the charges dropped?
The government said new evidence did not match the first stories about the event. They found the accounts were not consistent.
Q: Who was involved?
The charges were dropped for Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. They were accused of hurting an ICE officer.
Q: What happened before the charges were dropped?
An ICE officer shot Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. Later, Sosa-Celis and Aljorna were accused of hurting the officer. But new evidence showed problems with the stories.