Three men taken into custody for trying to kill federal agents in Minneapolis identified as undocumented immigrants from Venezuela.

Three Arrested After Attack on ICE Officers in Minneapolis

On Wednesday, three individuals were arrested in Minneapolis following an ambush of ICE officers. Authorities have identified them as undocumented immigrants from Venezuela, having entered the U.S. during the Biden administration. Officials are labeling the incident as an “attempted murder” of a federal law enforcement officer.

The Department of Homeland Security revealed that the suspects—Julio Cesar Sosa-Celiz, Alfredo Alejandro Ajorna, and Gabriel Alejandro Hernández-Rezema—are all in the country illegally and are currently in ICE custody.

Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, expressed concern about the attack, stating, “What we witnessed last night in Minneapolis was an attempted murder against federal law enforcement. Our police officer was ambushed and attacked by three people who hit him with snow shovels and broomsticks. Fearing for his life, the officer fired defensive shots.” She further criticized local leaders, citing that, “Mayor [Jacob] Frey and Governor [Tim] Walz must take control of their city. They encourage obstruction and assault of our nation’s law enforcement, which is a federal crime. This puts Minnesotans at risk.”

The situation in Minneapolis remains tense following a recent shooting involving ICE agents. On January 7, Renee Good was shot after being pinned down by an SUV while attempting to evade arrest.

Sosascelis, one of the suspects, was shot in the leg after he violently assaulted an ICE officer. Two other men joined the attack armed with similar makeshift weapons, prompting the officer to return fire.

Details on the Incident Involving the ICE Officer

As investigators attempted a traffic stop on Sosa-Celiz, he fled, crashing his car into a parked vehicle before running on foot.

DHS noted that Sosa-Celiz, who had entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, had prior arrests for driving without a license and giving false information to law enforcement, but he was subsequently released by Minnesota authorities before ICE could take custody.

Ajorna was caught entering the U.S. illegally in May 2023. However, an immigration judge issued a final removal order after she failed to appear for a hearing.

Hernández-Ledesma also arrived in the U.S. in May 2023 but was classified as a “non-enforcement priority” by the Biden administration, according to DHS.