MINNEAPOLIS — Federal officials under President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security have publicly identified three men accused of attacking U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis during an enforcement operation Wednesday night.
The assault occurred during a targeted ICE traffic stop aimed at apprehending Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national who illegally entered the United States in August 2022 and had a history of prior offenses, according to DHS.
Sosa-Celis was shot in the leg by an ICE officer after attempting to evade arrest by crashing his vehicle and fleeing on foot. Officials said he was struck during a lawful self-defense response after the agent was attacked by multiple subjects.
Assault Allegations and Arrests
Two other men — Alfredo Alejandro Ajorna and Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez-Ledezma — are accused of joining Sosa-Celis in physically attacking the ICE officer with improvised weapons, including a snow shovel and a broom handle, as he sought to take Sosa-Celis into custody.
All three men have been arrested and taken into ICE custody amid charges that officials characterize as attempted murder of a federal law enforcement officer. DHS spokespersons decried the episode as a stark example of violence against agents enforcing U.S. immigration law.
Federal Officials Place Blame On Policy Failures
DHS publicly criticized prior federal policies for creating an environment conducive to such hostile encounters. Government statements highlighted that Sosa-Celis previously had a removal order that went unenforced after he failed to appear for immigration proceedings.
DHS officials specifically faulted Minneapolis leadership and Minnesota’s governor for what they described as an “organized resistance” to ICE operations. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz have repeatedly expressed opposition to aggressive federal immigration enforcement and have publicly distanced themselves from the Trump administration’s tactics.
Local Government Reactions
Mayor Frey, speaking on social media after the incident, called the situation “not sustainable” but also accused ICE of intolerable conduct. His comments framed the clashes in broader terms of local unrest, even as federal authorities emphasized the violence directed at agents.
Times reporter coverage shows Minneapolis has experienced significant tensions since a separate ICE-involved fatal shooting earlier in January, when 37-year-old Renee Good was killed by an ICE agent during a warrant operation — an episode that sparked widespread protests and political debate over federal enforcement policies.
Escalating Protests Follow Enforcement Actions
The latest Minneapolis incident comes amid a surge in demonstrations triggered by the federal immigration crackdown. Protesters have repeatedly confronted ICE personnel, creating situations in which agents have deployed pepper spray and other crowd control measures.
Republican leaders argue that such resistance emboldens criminal elements and compromises officer safety. In contrast, local officials often frame the federal presence as heavy-handed and destabilizing. These competing narratives underscore deep divides over enforcement priorities and urban governance.
Presidential Response and National Implications
President Trump has publicly supported ICE and suggested further measures — including potential invocation of the Insurrection Act — to compel state and local governments to cooperate with federal enforcement. Though controversial, that rhetoric reflects a broader push by the administration to reassert federal authority in areas resisting immigration law enforcement.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has defended the operations as essential to public safety and border security, arguing that lawful immigration must be upheld and enforced. Her office stressed that attacks on federal agents cannot be tolerated in any jurisdiction.
Safety, Security and Policy Debate
Critics of the enforcement tactics maintain that a militarized approach inflames tensions in communities already distrustful of federal presence. Supporters counter that without firm law enforcement, both public safety and the integrity of the immigration system deteriorate.
In recent years, federal agents have encountered armed resistance and civil unrest in multiple enforcement context, making Minneapolis a focal point in the national debate over how — and where — immigration laws should be implemented.
Beyond Minneapolis, DHS has launched operations in other major cities, including New York City, to target criminal networks and undocumented criminal aliens. These efforts illustrate a nationwide strategy aimed at deterring unlawful entry and criminal conduct.