The acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement says that two of its officers appear to have made «untruthful statements» about shooting a migrant in Minnesota and may face federal charges for their actions.
«Today, a joint review by ICE and the Department of Justice (DOJ) of video evidence has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements,» Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a statement.
«Both officers have been immediately placed on administrative leave pending the completion of a thorough internal investigation. Lying under oath is a serious federal offense. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is actively investigating these false statements,» the statement said.
«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. ICE remains fully committed to transparency, accountability, and the fair enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws,» Lyons added.
Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images — PHOTO: US Border Patrol agents detain a person near Roosevelt High School during dismissal time in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 7, 2026.
Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images — PHOTO: US Border Patrol agents detain a person near Roosevelt High School during dismissal time in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 7, 2026.
The statement from Lyons comes a day after the top federal prosecutor in Minnesota asked a judge to dismiss charges against two men, including one who was shot in the leg by an immigration agent, citing «newly discovered evidence» in what was initially framed as a «violent» attack on law enforcement during an enforcement operation.
«Newly discovered evidence in this matter is materially inconsistent with the allegations in the complaint affidavit. … as well as the preliminary-hearing testimony,» U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Daniel Rosen wrote in the filing Wednesday evening. It remains unclear what specific new evidence Rosen was referencing.
Rosen has asked the court to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning the charges cannot be refiled.
«Accordingly, dismissal with prejudice will serve the interests of justice,» Rosen wrote.
In the wake of the shooting on Jan. 14 — a week after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis — the Trump administration said the man who was shot, Julio Cesar Sosa-Selis, attacked a federal law enforcement officer with a «shovel or a broom stick» and that the incident was part of «an attempt to evade arrest and obstruct law enforcement.»