MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Authorities in Minnesota and at the federal level are conducting an investigation into the alleged beating of Alberto Castañeda Mondragón, a Mexican citizen, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in early January 2026. The investigation aims to determine the circumstances surrounding Castañeda Mondragón’s severe injuries, which include eight skull fractures that necessitated his admission to an intensive care unit at a Minneapolis hospital.
On January 8, Castañeda Mondragón reported that ICE agents forcibly removed him from a vehicle, threw him to the ground, and subsequently struck him multiple times in the head with a steel baton. This account has been challenged by ICE, which claims that Castañeda Mondragón brought about his own injuries by attempting to flee while handcuffed and subsequently falling against a concrete wall.
Medical professionals who attended to Castañeda Mondragón have contradicted ICE's narrative, suggesting that his injuries are inconsistent with a fall. Hospital staff indicated that his brain hemorrhaging and memory fragmentation could not be adequately explained by the agency's account of events. A CT scan revealed fractures across different parts of his skull, leading doctors to conclude that the nature of his injuries suggests a violent altercation rather than a simple accident.
In an interview, Castañeda Mondragón described the arresting officers as "racist" and asserted that they began assaulting him immediately upon his detention. His legal representatives allege that his arrest involved racial profiling. Investigators from both the St. Paul Police Department and the FBI have been surveying the vicinity of the incident, specifically canvassing the parking lot of a shopping center where the altercation occurred to gather potential evidence, including surveillance footage.
Local business owners confirmed that investigators from both the St. Paul Police Department and the FBI sought video evidence from their establishments. Unfortunately, due to the lag in law enforcement's interest in the footage, some of the videos may have been overwritten, complicating the investigation. Johnny Ratana, the owner of Teepwo Market, reported that investigators attempted to retrieve images that had been automatically overwritten after 30 days.
As the investigation unfolds, concerns have been raised regarding the timing and efficiency of the response from law enforcement. Despite multiple calls for answers from elected officials, the St. Paul Police maintained that they could not launch an investigation until Castañeda Mondragón filed a police report—a process that was delayed due to his hospitalization and questions surrounding his immigration status. Eventually, police were able to take his statement through the Mexican consulate.
Moreover, this incident comes at a time when another federal investigation is active regarding ICE officers who allegedly provided false testimony about a shooting that occurred in Minneapolis. Video evidence contradicted the officers’ accounts, leading to the dropping of charges against two Venezuelan men involved in that case.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has largely avoided commenting on the specifics of Castañeda Mondragón's case. While the department has reasserted that the injuries were self-inflicted, inconsistencies in their claims raise further questions about the account of the events. For example, ICE’s assistant secretary for public affairs, Tricia McLaughlin, stated that the agency targeted Castañeda Mondragón for removal due to his overstayed visa, yet, official documentation indicated that the visa status was only established after he was taken into custody.
As investigations proceed, Castañeda Mondragón has been summoned by ICE for a meeting that could potentially result in his return to custody and deportation. The complexities surrounding this case highlight ongoing concerns regarding immigration enforcement practices and accountability, particularly in interactions involving minority communities.
