The acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, has taken the rare step of publicly accusing two of his own federal agents of perjury. The fallout stems from a mid-January shooting of a Venezuelan national in Minneapolis that has already sparked local outrage.
According to Lyons, video footage has surfaced that directly contradicts the accounts given by the officers involved in the incident. “Video evidence has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements. 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,” Lyons said. “The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law. … Violations of this sacred sworn oath will not be tolerated.”
The reversal comes after the Department of Justice dropped all charges against Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who were previously accused of assaulting the agents. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen pointed to “newly discovered evidence” that proved to be “materially inconsistent” with the original allegations.
Initial reports from the Department of Homeland Security claimed that Sosa-Celis had violently resisted arrest and that others joined in with a snow shovel and broom handle, forcing an officer to fire a “defensive shot” into his leg. However, cellphone video and surveillance footage seem to tell a different story. Frederick Goetz, the attorney representing Aljorna, noted that the footage simply didn’t support the officers’ version of events. “It is my understanding that the video surveillance evidence that captured the incident was materially inconsistent with the federal agent’s claims of what happened; i.e. the agent’s claims of being assaulted were not backed up by the video evidence,” Goetz said.
As the internal investigation continues, the focus has shifted to the integrity of the agents who initially swore that they were under attack. The shifting narratives, ranging from who was driving the car to who allegedly held the broomstick, have severely damaged the government’s case. For the legal teams representing the men who were shot and charged, the admission from ICE is a major turning point. Sosa-Celis’ attorney Robin Wolpert said “I am glad to see that ICE and the DOJ are publicly acknowledging and investigating untruthful statements by the two ICE officers.
Lyons has made it clear that if the investigation confirms the officers lied, they will likely face more than just administrative leave, noting that they could face termination and potential federal charges for their statements.
