U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has re-arrested two Venezuelan men in Minneapolis shortly after a federal judge ordered their release from custody. The move has intensified the ongoing legal and physical conflict between the federal government and local officials over immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities.
The two individuals, identified as Alfredo Aljorna, 26, and Julio Sosa-Celis, 24, were taken back into federal custody on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at the St. Paul courthouse. Their initial release had been ordered by U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson, who concluded they did not present a heightened flight risk. However, ICE officers detained the men again without immediate explanation before they could leave the building.
The January 14 Shooting and Ambush Allegations
The re-detention carries significant weight due to the violence associated with the suspects’ original arrest on January 14, 2026. According to federal authorities, these individuals are charged with assaulting a federal immigration officer during an enforcement action in North Minneapolis.
- The Incident: Federal agents were attempting to conduct a traffic stop and subsequent arrest when they were reportedly ambushed outside a duplex.
- The Shooting: During the confrontation, an unidentified ICE agent fired a single shot that passed through the thigh of Sosa-Celis.
- Conflicting Accounts: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains agents acted in self-defense after being attacked with a shovel and a broom. However, defense attorneys presented photographs in court showing a bullet hole in the front door of the suspects’ duplex, supporting their claim that the shot was fired after they had already retreated inside and closed the door.
Ongoing Legal Battle
Following the re-arrest of Aljorna and Sosa-Celis, family attorney Brian Clark filed an emergency habeas petition, calling the re-detention “unconstitutional”. In a swift response, Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz ruled that ICE cannot move the men out of Minnesota and has given the federal government until February 6 to provide a legal explanation for the re-arrest.
The Trump administration continues to defend its “Operation Metro Surge” tactics, with DHS officials criticizing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for “sanctuary-style” policies that they claim protect violent criminals. Local leaders, conversely, argue that extraordinary federal actions are bypassing judicial oversight and further inciting civil unrest.
