A Mexican immigrant sustained severe head injuries in ICE custody in January 2026, sparking allegations of misconduct and racial profiling.

A Mexican immigrant, Alberto Castañeda Mondragón, was hospitalized in Minneapolis in January 2026 with severe head injuries after being taken into federal custody. ICE claimed he ran headfirst into a wall while handcuffed, but medical staff at Hennepin County Medical Center and outside physicians said the injuries—multiple skull fractures and brain bleeding—were inconsistent with that account, calling it implausible. Hospital workers reported tensions with ICE officers, including demands to shackle the patient and interference with care, leading to a confrontation. The 31-year-old, who entered the U.S. legally in 2022 and had no criminal record, was arrested near St. Paul during a federal immigration sweep. His lawyers allege racial profiling, and a federal judge later ordered his release. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment.