MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Alberto Castañeda Mondragón recalls the absurdity of his situation, struggling to remember his young daughter after being beaten by immigration officers in Minnesota. What lingers in his mind are nightmares of brutality during his encounter with ICE agents.
On January 8, 2023, outside a shopping center in St. Paul, agents pulled him from a friend's car and proceeded to beat him violently, leading to eight skull fractures and five serious brain hemorrhages. Castañeda Mondragón was taken to a detention facility where the violence continued.
They were very racist people, he recalled, detailing how ICE officers assaulted him without provocation. His condition deteriorated as injuries consumed his memories. After nearly three weeks in the hospital, he began to recover but still needs ongoing care that he fears he can't afford.
Despite experiencing the traumatic effects of the incident leading to substantial memory loss and physical disabilities, Castañeda Mondragón expresses gratitude for surviving. The ordeal has left him terrified of future encounters with ICE.
As elected officials push for accountability with investigations into his case, community members are rallying support to help him rebuild his life amidst lingering mental and physical scars.
