Two immigration agents may have made untruthful statements in sworn testimony about the shooting of a migrant in Minneapolis last month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has said.
ICE acting director Todd Lyons stated that the two unnamed officers were placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. Lying under oath is a serious federal offense, he remarked. This announcement comes shortly after a judge dropped charges against two men accused of attacking the officers.
Initially, the Department of Homeland Security reported that a federal officer shot a man in the leg after being attacked with a shovel and broom handle by three migrants on January 14. However, Lyons indicated that video evidence has emerged showing discrepancies in the officers' testimonies.
Video evidence has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements, Lyons stated. He warned that the outcome of the investigation could lead to their termination and potential criminal prosecution.
The incident reportedly began with a car chase involving a Venezuelan national who was illegally in the country. After the chase, the situation escalated into an altercation which the ICE agents described as a struggle where they feared for their lives, leading to the defensive shots fired.
In the aftermath, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem commented on the incident, noting that the injured officer was receiving treatment. US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also criticized local governance, attributing the unrest to a failed administration's refusal to uphold law and order.
