Federal Perjury Probe Opened Into 2 ICE Officers After Minneapolis Migrant Shooting Evidence Contradicts Testimony
Federal authorities have opened a criminal perjury investigation into two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers after evidence suggested they gave untruthful sworn testimony about a January shooting in Minneapolis. The probe, announced Friday by ICE and the Justice Department, confirms a dramatic new chapter in a case that has already upended a federal prosecution.
The decision to investigate comes as tensions over immigration enforcement and use of force in Minnesota remain high, especially after legal developments this week weakened the government’s narrative of what happened on Jan. 14.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said video evidence revealed contradictions in two officers’ testimony and that both officers have been placed on administrative leave pending internal and DOJ reviews, with potential termination and federal charges possible.
The probe was announced a day after a federal judge dismissed charges against two Venezuelan men — including one who was shot during the incident — after prosecutors said newly discovered evidence was “materially inconsistent” with earlier allegations.
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“This is a serious federal offense and will be treated as such,” Lyons said, as investigations continue.
The developments matter because they highlight growing scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement, video evidence that contradicts official accounts, and rare steps toward holding agents legally accountable.
Expected next: the U.S. Attorney’s Office will decide whether to file charges against the officers once the review concludes.
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