Federal authorities have opened an investigation into two ICE officers and whether they lied in sworn statements after the Department of Justice dropped charges against a Venezuelan man who was shot during an operation.
“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,” acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Todd Lyons said Friday, according to The Associated Press. “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.”
The Venezuelan man, Julio Sosa-Celis, was charged with assaulting a federal officer last month. At the time, the Department of Homeland Security claimed an ICE officer targeted him in a traffic stop in Minneapolis, and that Sosa-Celis sped away and crashed his car before beginning to “resist and violently assault the officer” trying to apprehend him.
“Sosa-Celis got loose and began striking the officer with a shovel or broom stick,” the department alleged in a statement. “Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life. Sosa-Celis was hit in the leg.”
