Exclusive AP reporting revealed that two weeks before federal officers fatally shot Alex Pretti, another case in Minneapolis raised new questions about the use of force by immigration officers — and the narratives used to justify it.
A source tipped AP reporters to the case of Alberto Castañeda Mondragón, a man brought to Hennepin County Medical Center with multiple skull fractures and brain bleeding. ICE claimed he sustained the injuries by running headfirst into a wall while handcuffed, but hospital staff disputed that explanation, describing the injuries as inconsistent with such a scenario.
The incident became a flashpoint in a growing rift between federal immigration officers and hospital workers, with AP obtaining internal documents that revealed tensions over officer conduct inside the hospital. In response to the episode, HCMC issued new protocols governing how its staff should engage with federal officers.
The case unfolded during Operation Metro Surge, a sweeping immigration enforcement campaign that has faced scrutiny in Minneapolis. Castañeda Mondragón, who had no criminal record, was later released by court order but remains in recovery from his injuries.
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