When federal officers swear one thing in court and video shows otherwise, the real victim is the rule of law Americans expect from those enforcing it.
Quick Take
- ICE says two officers may have made untruthful sworn statements after a January 14, 2026, shooting during a targeted traffic stop in Minneapolis.
- DHS initially framed the incident as a violent attack on an officer using a shovel and broomstick, but video later undercut that account.
- Federal prosecutors dismissed charges against the two Venezuelan men after the evidence problems surfaced.
- Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons announced a joint ICE-DOJ perjury probe; the officers were placed on administrative leave and could face termination or prosecution.
What happened in Minneapolis—and what video changed
ICE officers tried to stop a vehicle driven by Venezuelan migrant Yorman Aljorna in Minneapolis on January 14, 2026, according to reporting based on court filings and federal statements. The stop escalated into a crash, a foot chase, and a shooting that wounded another Venezuelan man, Yosber Sosa-Celis. Early federal claims portrayed the migrants as violently attacking an officer, but later video evidence did not support that narrative.
Federal accounts said an officer faced an assault involving items described as a shovel and broomstick, language that quickly amplified the public stakes of the encounter.
Later reporting described a more limited sequence captured on video and backed by eyewitness descriptions: Aljorna allegedly threw a broom while fleeing, and Sosa-Celis was retreating with a shovel rather than charging in a way consistent with the original claims. Those discrepancies became central to what happened next.
ICE and DOJ move toward a perjury investigation
On February 13, 2026, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said ICE and the Justice Department opened a probe into possible perjury after what he described as “untruthful statements” by two ICE officers. Lyons emphasized that lying under oath is a serious federal offense and said the agency would pursue accountability. The officers were placed on administrative leave and could face firing or criminal charges, depending on investigative findings.
The legal system relies on sworn testimony because judges and juries can’t “replay” events the way the public can. When an officer’s statement is contradicted by video, prosecutors are forced to reassess whether charges can ethically proceed.
In this case, the top federal prosecutor in Minnesota dismissed the criminal cases against Aljorna and Sosa-Celis just before Lyons’ announcement, reflecting how quickly a credibility problem can collapse a prosecution built on disputed testimony.
ICE says 2 of its officers may have lied under oath about shooting migrant in Minnesota https://t.co/9sxt1vzBg0
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) February 15, 2026
The dropped charges don’t answer the bigger immigration questions
Dismissed charges are not the same as a clean resolution, especially for non-citizens. Reporting indicated the two Venezuelan men still faced uncertainty about what comes next, including potential immigration consequences that weren’t fully clarified in the available accounts.
That gray area matters for Americans who support firm border enforcement but also expect due process: a system can be tough on illegal immigration without cutting corners on facts or testimony.
Transparency gaps: state investigation and federal evidence control
A separate state criminal investigation into the shooting was described as ongoing, but key details remain undisclosed, including the shooter’s identity. Reporting also raised questions about evidence-sharing, with the FBI not providing materials to state investigators, which can slow public accountability even when multiple agencies have overlapping jurisdiction.
For communities already on edge about immigration enforcement and use-of-force incidents, delayed transparency tends to deepen mistrust.
Politically, the case also showed how fast leaders can lock in a narrative before all facts are known. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly blamed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly encouraging assaults on law enforcement, but the video-driven reversal undercut the certainty of the initial “attempted murder” framing described in coverage.
Conservatives who back law enforcement have a stake in getting this right: real accountability protects good officers and preserves public support for lawful enforcement.
