Video Undermines ICE Account of Minneapolis Shooting

Source: nytimes.com

TL;DR

The story at a glance

The New York Times obtained video footage of a January 14, 2026, incident where an ICE agent shot and wounded Julio C. Sosa-Celis, a 24-year-old Venezuelan immigrant, in north Minneapolis during an attempted arrest following a traffic stop.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/us/minnesota-ice-shooting-video.html) ICE initially described Sosa-Celis and housemate Alfredo A. Aljorna as attackers who ambushed the agent with a shovel and broom, leading to quick felony charges portraying the agent as a brutal beating victim.[[2]](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/01/15/dhs-releases-more-details-about-three-violent-criminal-illegal-aliens-who-violently) The article is reported now because the Times' analysis of the newly public video—available to authorities hours after the event but not reviewed by prosecutors for nearly three weeks—undermines that account and highlights flaws in the federal response.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/us/minnesota-ice-shooting-video.html)

Key points

Details and context

The incident occurred amid aggressive ICE operations in Minneapolis under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, following fatal shootings like that of Renee Good on January 7, which also involved disputed videos and accounts.[[6]](https://sahanjournal.com/ice-shootings-minneapolis-minnesota) Sosa-Celis and Aljorna, DoorDash drivers supporting families, had minor prior records like driving without a license but no violent history; ICE labeled them "violent criminal illegal aliens."[[7]](https://www.startribune.com/federal-agents-lied-about-why-they-shot-a-venezuelan-man-in-minneapolis-their-story-quickly-fell-apart/601567060)

City surveillance video, released April 6 without comment, captures a vehicle stopping abruptly, a man with a shovel outside, and a brief scuffle before shots; it aligns with witness claims that the agent fired as men retreated into the apartment.[[8]](https://www.fox9.com/news/north-minneapolis-ice-shooting-video-april-6-2026) This contrasts with ICE bodycam or affidavits, which prosecutors later found unreliable.

The delayed video review raises oversight issues: Minneapolis Police Chief noted federal access early, yet U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen moved to drop charges only after inconsistencies emerged, avoiding retrial.[[4]](https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/ice-in-minnesota/video-released-of-jan-14-shooting-involving-federal-agents-in-north-minneapolis/89-7b77b9b4-50d6-4f41-b698-f0ab90cb851e)

Key quotes

None from the paywalled article; secondary reports quote DHS on the initial "ambush" but no direct agent admissions.[[2]](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/01/15/dhs-releases-more-details-about-three-violent-criminal-illegal-aliens-who-violently)

Why it matters

This case exposes potential flaws in ICE's rapid narrative-building after use-of-force incidents, eroding public trust in federal immigration enforcement amid heightened operations.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/us/minnesota-ice-shooting-video.html) It concretely shows how unverified agent statements led to wrongful charges against immigrants, delaying justice and fueling local-federal tensions in sanctuary-leaning areas like Minneapolis.[[7]](https://www.startribune.com/federal-agents-lied-about-why-they-shot-a-venezuelan-man-in-minneapolis-their-story-quickly-fell-apart/601567060) Watch the ongoing federal probe into the agents and any policy changes on video protocols or charging decisions, though outcomes remain uncertain.[[5]](https://www.commondreams.org/news/ice-lies-minneapolis-shooting)