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 confirmed that the two unnamed officers were immediately placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
Lying under oath is a serious federal offence, Lyons stated. On Friday, a judge granted a request to drop charges against two men who were accused of attacking the officers.
The Department of Homeland Security initially asserted that a federal officer shot a man in the leg after being attacked with a shovel and broom handle by three migrants on 14 January.
However, Lyons indicated in a statement that the two officers had likely provided inaccurate testimony, and the US attorney's office is currently investigating the matter.
Video evidence has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements, he remarked, implying that the officers may face termination and potential criminal prosecution after the investigation's conclusion.
Following the January incident, the DHS claimed that the shooting occurred after a car chase involving a Venezuelan national illegally living in the country. They reported that the man exited his car, leading to an altercation with the federal agent.
During the struggle, two individuals allegedly emerged from a nearby apartment and attacked the officer, which the agency claimed justified the officer's defensive shots.
In the aftermath, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem commented on the officer's injuries, stating, he's bruised, he is injured, he's getting treatment, and we're thankful that he made it out alive. Meanwhile, US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche condemned local leadership, asserting that the situation reflects poor governance and fostered violence against law enforcement.
