All articles tagged with #civil rights investigation
Federal prosecutors say ICE officer Castro lied about a Minnesota shooting; charges against two accomplices were dropped after video evidence contradicted their accounts, Castro was suspended and later released amid extradition wrangling, and a civil rights probe remains active with potential additional charges as DOJ internal turmoil continues.
A federal grand jury indicted ICE officer Christian Castro for making false statements to the FBI about the January 14 shooting of Venezuelan immigrant Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis; a separate civil rights charge is under investigation, while Castro also faces Minnesota state charges. Earlier video evidence led prosecutors to drop charges against Sosa-Celis and another man, and Castro was released in Texas after extradition bottlenecks. DOJ involvement and ongoing investigations highlight federal scrutiny of ICE enforcement actions.
The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, a Democrat, examining whether his office’s handling of cases involving immigrant defendants may violate the Civil Rights Act amid conservative criticisms that his office is too lenient toward undocumented defendants.
DHS says federal immigration officers in Minneapolis will start wearing body cameras immediately, in response to backlash over two citizens’ deaths during a federal immigration surge; one death (Alex Pretti) has been ruled a homicide and DOJ opened a civil rights investigation. The involved agents wore cameras and are on leave. The program is planned to expand nationwide once funding is available, set against ongoing budget fights and a partial government shutdown.
ProPublica identifies two CBP agents, Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez, as the shooters in the Jan. 24 fatal shooting of Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti. The agents, part of Operation Metro Surge, have been placed on leave while the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division investigates; the disclosure comes amid days of protests and calls for accountability and ongoing scrutiny of masked federal enforcement in immigration crackdowns.
ProPublica identified Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez as the two federal officers who shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during Operation Metro Surge; CBP placed the agents on leave as protests grew, and the DOJ Civil Rights Division opened an investigation into the shooting amid scrutiny of immigration enforcement and transparency following a separate fatal incident in the city.
The Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the Border Patrol shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti, with the FBI leading the probe and DHS providing support; CBP is conducting its own internal inquiry, and it remains unclear whether Minnesota investigators will receive federal evidence. New video footage contradicts the initial claim that Pretti brandished a handgun, and questions linger about what information the federal investigation will share with state authorities and how the case will proceed.
The US Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti by immigration officers, with the FBI leading the inquiry after DHS had signaled a narrower review; officials say they will review video and interview witnesses as protests continue outside federal facilities.
Minnesota is suing the federal government to obtain evidence in killings by federal immigration agents, illustrating a widening clash over who conducts and controls civil-rights investigations and signaling strains in the long-standing federal-state balance of power.
The FBI agent who initially opened a civil rights probe into the fatal Minneapolis ICE shooting of Renee Good has resigned. The probe was reclassified as an assault on an officer, and the FBI reportedly blocked Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from participating, as Director Kash Patel leads a broader purge of agents tied to past investigations amid scrutiny of politicization.
The FBI agent who opened the civil-rights probe into Renee Good’s death by ICE agent Jonathan Ross has resigned; the investigation reportedly shifted from civil rights to an assault inquiry, with the FBI reportedly blocking the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s role, and the case has coincided with DOJ scrutiny and ongoing protests.
FBI agents searched the home of a couple in the Conway area of Horry County, South Carolina, who are accused of burning a cross in their yard. The investigation is focused on allegations of racial discrimination and harassment. The couple has been charged with second-degree harassment, and the NAACP has launched its own investigation into the incident. The FBI is working with local and state partners to thoroughly examine the matter and ensure equality and fairness within the community. South Carolina, one of two states without a hate crime law, is being urged to pass legislation in response to the incident.
Maize USD 266, a school district in Kansas, has released a statement regarding an ongoing civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. The district has not yet received a copy of the complaint but confirms it was filed in August 2023, referencing an unspecified allegation from March 2023. Maize USD 266 is committed to cooperating fully with the investigation and prioritizes respect, inclusivity, and the safety of all students and employees.
A grandmother is suing the Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) after allegedly being "sexually humiliated" inside a "torture warehouse" following a traffic stop. The department is facing multiple lawsuits and a civil rights investigation into the facility, known as the "Brave Cave." Four officers are facing criminal charges related to the investigation. The grandmother claims she was subjected to unnecessary strip and body cavity searches, while another plaintiff alleges he was beaten severely. The facility has been permanently closed, and the department's Street Crimes Unit has been disbanded. The FBI is conducting an independent review of the complaints.
Four officers, including a deputy chief, from the scandal-plagued Baton Rouge Police Department have been arrested and charged with attempting to cover up excessive force during a strip search. The officers were part of a disbanded street crimes unit that ran an obscure warehouse known as the "brave cave," where detainees were allegedly assaulted. The department is under FBI scrutiny, and numerous lawsuits have been filed alleging abuse by the unit. The arrests could jeopardize hundreds of criminal cases, and the district attorney will review each case individually to determine the officers' involvement and if they are necessary for prosecution.