The Minneapolis snow shovel attack made national headlines when three Venezuelans beat a federal agent during an arrest attempt.
One suspect got shot in the leg after the violent ambush, all three barricaded themselves in an apartment, and ICE dragged them to federal court on charges of assaulting a federal officer.
On Tuesday, a federal judge decided these men deserved to walk free – and what happened next proves everything Trump supporters have been saying about activist judges protecting criminals over Americans.
What Actually Happened During Minneapolis ICE Arrest January 14
Here's what DHS says went down that day.
ICE agents attempted a targeted traffic stop to arrest Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, 24.
He fled in his vehicle, crashed into a parked car, and ran on foot.
When the pursuing officer caught up and tried to take him into custody, Sosa-Celis violently assaulted the officer and resisted arrest.
As they struggled on the ground, two individuals emerged from a nearby apartment and began striking the officer with a snow shovel and the handle of a broom.
Sosa-Celis broke free and allegedly struck the officer as well before the agent – fearing for his life – fired a defensive shot that struck Sosa-Celis in the leg.
Despite being wounded, all three suspects retreated into the apartment and barricaded themselves inside.
DHS described it as an "attempted murder of federal law enforcement."
Both the officer and Sosa-Celis were hospitalized after the confrontation.
Federal Judge Says Venezuelan Illegal Immigrants Aren't Flight Risks
Federal Judge Paul Magnuson reviewed this case Tuesday and reached a stunning conclusion.
Alfredo Alejandro Ajorna, 26, and Sosa-Celis – two of the three men accused of the attack – didn't pose a "heightened flight risk" and should be released under court conditions.
Illegal immigrants who beat a federal agent with gardening tools and fled into an apartment to barricade themselves somehow don't qualify as flight risks in this judge's mind.
The men walked toward the courthouse exit as free men.
Then ICE agents stepped in.
ICE Re-Arrested Criminal Illegal Aliens Before They Could Leave The Building
Federal agents took both men back into custody immediately – before they could walk out of the courthouse – without explanation, according to court records cited by The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Brian Clark, attorney for the men, filed an emergency habeas corpus petition late Tuesday claiming the re-detention was "unconstitutional" and demanding immediate release.
Judge Schiltz responded by barring ICE from removing the two men from Minnesota and ordered the federal government to explain its actions by Friday.
Defense attorneys claim photographic evidence suggests the shot may have been fired after suspects had already gone inside the residence, but ICE says all three men were taken into federal custody after attempting to murder a federal officer.
Minneapolis Judge Has Been Waging War On Federal Immigration Enforcement For Weeks
Minnesota has become ground zero for Democrat obstruction of federal immigration enforcement since Trump launched Operation Metro Surge in December 2025.
The same Judge Schiltz who just ordered these violent criminals released has been threatening ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons with contempt charges and documented 96 court orders ICE allegedly violated in 74 cases – just in January 2026 alone.
Governor Tim Walz mobilized the Minnesota National Guard against federal agents.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey demanded ICE "get the f**k out of Minneapolis."
The state of Minnesota and cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul filed federal lawsuits to shut down Operation Metro Surge entirely.
Federal judges are releasing suspects who allegedly tried to murder ICE agents back onto the streets.
The Sanctuary City Pattern Where Criminal Illegal Aliens Get More Rights Than Agents
Democrats built a system where illegal immigrants who ambush federal officers get bond hearings and due process protections while the agents who risk their lives enforcing the law get beaten with shovels.
Judge Schiltz can issue all the habeas corpus petitions he wants.
ICE re-arrested these suspects because they're illegal immigrants who allegedly assaulted a federal officer – which gives ICE independent authority to detain them for deportation proceedings regardless of what state charges were dismissed or federal judges ordered.
The Constitution gives the federal government – not state judges – authority over immigration enforcement.
This Minneapolis judge just proved exactly what Tom Homan keeps saying about sanctuary politicians and activist judges protecting violent criminals over American safety.
Trump and Homan are dismantling that system one arrest at a time, and Democrats are losing their minds because federal agents won't be intimidated by judges who think attempted murder suspects deserve to walk free.
Sources:
- Michael Dorgan, "ICE re-arrests two Venezuelan men after federal judge's release order," Fox News, February 4, 2026.
- "2025–26 Minnesota ICE Deployment," Britannica, February 4, 2026.
- Tricia McLaughlin, "Radical Rhetoric by Sanctuary Politicians Leads to an Unprecedented 1,300% Increase in Assaults Against ICE Officers," U.S. Department of Homeland Security, January 8, 2026.
- Jordan Rubin, "Minnesota's chief district judge exposed ICE's lawlessness," MS NOW, January 29, 2026.