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Mexican immigrant suffers eight skull fractures during ICE arrest in St. Paul; FBI investigating

Jan 23, 2026 · St. Paul, MN, Mexico

Alberto Castañeda Mondragón, a 31-year-old Mexican citizen, sustained eight skull fractures during an ICE arrest on January 8, 2026, in a St. Paul shopping center parking lot. According to Castañeda, ICE agents pulled him from a vehicle, threw him to the ground, and repeatedly struck him in the head with a steel baton. He was hospitalized at Hennepin County Medical Center in intensive care with fractures to the front, back, and both sides of his skull along with brain hemorrhaging. Hospital staff told the Associated Press that the injuries were inconsistent with ICE's account that he fell against a concrete wall while attempting to flee while handcuffed. Castañeda filed a habeas corpus petition alleging federal agents interfered with his medical care and detained him based on his appearance. FBI and St. Paul Police are investigating the incident.

Timeline

Jan 23, 2026Castañeda filed habeas corpus petition alleging ICE agents beat him with a steel baton, further assaulted him in custody at Whipple Federal Building, and interfered with his medical care
Jan 8, 2026Alberto Castañeda Mondragón arrested by ICE agents outside a St. Paul shopping center; sustained eight skull fractures to front, back, and both sides of skull with brain hemorrhaging; hospitalized at Hennepin County Medical Center in intensive care

Sources

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