A man shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis was charged with assaulting law enforcement. A startling admission ended the case

A Minneapolis man, shot by an ICE agent, faces assault charges. A surprising confession marked the case’s conclusion

Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, a DoorDash delivery driver in Minneapolis, found himself pursued by ICE agents last month during an evening shift. His attorney stated that Aljorna noticed the agents tailing him before he returned home, where he was tackled but managed to escape. As he closed the door and attempted to secure it, his cousin Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis claimed he was shot in the leg by an immigration enforcement officer.

A conflicting narrative emerged from the Department of Homeland Security

Following the incident, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) quickly released its version of events, which contradicted the accounts of the men and their relatives. According to DHS, Sosa-Celis was the driver involved in the encounter, and all three individuals—Sosa-Celis, Aljorna, and a third person—attacked the agent before he returned fire. However, this account was later challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which filed a court document on January 16 asserting that Aljorna was actually operating the vehicle at the time.

“This was an absolute unreasonable use of force, and the officer was fabricating claims against my client to justify that,” said Aljorna’s attorney, Frederick J. Goetz.

On Thursday, the DOJ filed a motion to dismiss the charges against the two Venezuelan men, citing “newly discovered evidence” that directly opposed the earlier allegations. The motion revealed that federal prosecutors had provided inaccurate information to the court, while ICE admitted its agents made “false statements” under oath. The two officers involved have since been placed on administrative leave as the Justice Department investigates their “untruthful statements,” as stated by ICE Director Todd Lyons.

Shifting accounts challenge the Trump administration’s credibility

The case has become part of a growing trend where federal law enforcement agencies rapidly release accounts of shootings that are later proven misleading. CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig highlighted how these inconsistencies erode public trust, especially after the DOJ’s motion to dismiss with prejudice signaled a definitive reversal. This move indicates the agency knowingly presented false information, making it impossible to refile charges in the future.

Examples of such revisions include video evidence from the fatal shooting of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which cast doubt on the government’s initial claims. Similarly, prosecutors last year dropped charges against Marimar Martinez in Chicago after text messages showed the agent boasted about firing multiple shots at her. The evidence ultimately supported Martinez’s version of events, contradicting the agency’s narrative.

DHS initially described the shooting as “defensive fire,” but the DOJ’s intervention has exposed gaps in the agency’s explanation. Lawyers for both Sosa-Celis and Aljorna praised the motion, calling it “extraordinary” and “exceedingly rare.” Meanwhile, CNN has sought further details from DHS regarding the evidence used to justify the initial statement but has yet to receive a response.