Hospital Staff Question ICE Narrative Regarding Immigrant's Severe Injuries
Intensive care nurses at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis immediately doubted the account provided by federal immigration officers when they arrived with a Mexican immigrant suffering from multiple facial and skull fractures. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents initially claimed that 31-year-old Alberto Castañeda Mondragón had attempted to flee while handcuffed and "purposefully ran headfirst into a brick wall," according to court documents filed by his lawyer seeking release.
Medical Professionals Challenge Official Explanation
Three nurses familiar with the case stated that hospital staff determined this explanation could not possibly account for the fractures and bleeding throughout the man's brain. "It was laughable, if there was something to laugh about," said one nurse who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss patient care. "There was no way this person ran headfirst into a wall."
This incident represents a recent example of escalating tensions between immigration officers and healthcare workers at Minneapolis hospitals. Workers at the Hennepin County facility report that ICE officers have:
- Restrained patients against hospital policies
- Remained at patients' bedsides for extended periods
- Lingered around hospital campuses
- Pressed individuals for proof of citizenship
Operation Metro Surge Creates Hospital Tensions
Since the initiation of Operation Metro Surge, President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement initiative in Minnesota, ICE officers have become such a regular presence at the hospital that administrators established new protocols for employee interactions. Some staff members report feeling intimidated to the point where they avoid crossing paths with agents while working and utilize encrypted communications to prevent potential electronic surveillance.
Similar federal operations have occurred in Los Angeles, Chicago, and other cities, where critics have denounced what they characterize as overly aggressive tactics. The exact number of individuals requiring hospital care while in immigration detention remains unclear.
Injuries Inconsistent with Official Account
The Associated Press interviewed a doctor and five nurses from HCMC, all speaking anonymously to discuss Castañeda Mondragón's case and hospital conditions. An external physician consulted by AP confirmed that his injuries were inconsistent with an accidental fall or collision with a wall.
ICE's explanation of how the man sustained injuries evolved during the time federal officers remained at his bedside. According to court filings and a hospital staff member, at least one ICE officer told caregivers that Castañeda Mondragón "got his (expletive) rocked" following his January 8 arrest near a St. Paul shopping center. This arrest occurred one day after the first of two fatal shootings in Minneapolis involving immigration officers.
Confrontation Over Restraint Methods
Tensions escalated when ICE insisted on using handcuffs to shackle the patient's ankles to his bed, prompting a heated exchange with hospital staff, according to court records and employees familiar with the incident. At that time, Castañeda Mondragón was reportedly so disoriented he could not identify the current year or recall how he was injured.
"We were basically trying to explain to ICE that this is how someone with a traumatic brain injury is—they're impulsive," explained one nurse. "We didn't think he was making a run for the door."
Hospital security responded to the scene, followed by the facility's CEO and attorney, who convened in a doctor's office to discuss options for handling the ICE presence. Eventually, staff reached an agreement with immigration officers to have a nursing assistant monitor the patient instead of using restraints.
Medical Assessment Contradicts Official Story
Approximately four hours after his arrest, Castañeda Mondragón was transported to a suburban Edina hospital emergency room with swelling, bruising around his right eye, and bleeding. A CT scan revealed at least eight skull fractures and life-threatening hemorrhages in five brain areas, according to court documents, prompting his transfer to HCMC.
Dr. Lindsey C. Thomas, a board-certified forensic pathologist with over thirty years of experience as a Minnesota medical examiner, reviewed the injury details and concurred with hospital staff assessments. "I am pretty sure a person could not get these kinds of extensive injuries from running into a wall," Thomas stated, adding that she would need to examine CT scans for definitive conclusions.
"I almost think one doesn't have to be a physician to conclude that a person can't get skull fractures on both the right and left sides of their head and from front to back by running themselves into a wall," she emphasized.
Extended ICE Presence Disrupts Hospital Environment
Hospital employees report that ICE officers have entered the facility with seriously injured detainees and remained at their bedsides for multiple days. The enforcement operation has created unease among staff members, who have observed agents loitering on hospital grounds and questioning patients and employees about citizenship status.
Nurses interviewed described feeling intimidated by ICE's presence in critical care units and reported being advised to avoid certain bathrooms to minimize encounters with officers. Staff members have reportedly begun using encrypted messaging applications to share information out of concern about potential government surveillance of their communications.
Hospital administration reminded employees that ICE officers cannot access patients or protected information without proper warrants or court orders. "Patients under federal custody are first and foremost patients," officials wrote in a bulletin outlining new protocols, which explicitly state that restraints should not be used unless medically necessary.
"We have our policies, but ICE personnel as federal officers don't necessarily comply with those, and that introduces tension," explained a doctor speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to comment for the hospital.
Legal Developments and Ongoing Recovery
More than two weeks after his arrest, a U.S. District Court judge ordered Castañeda Mondragón released from ICE custody. "We are encouraged by the court's order, which affirms that the rule of law applies to all people, in every corner of our country, including federal officers," stated Jeanette Boerner, director of Hennepin County Adult Representation Services, which filed the lawsuit on his behalf.
To the surprise of some treating physicians, Castañeda Mondragón was discharged from the hospital the following Tuesday. The Justice Department has since filed documents confirming he is no longer in custody.
According to his brother Gregorio Castañeda Mondragón, the immigrant has no family in Minnesota and has been taken in by coworkers. He experiences significant memory loss and faces a lengthy recovery period, unable to work for the foreseeable future. Friends and family express concern about covering his medical expenses.
"He still doesn't remember things that happened. I think (he remembers) 20% of the 100% he had," said Gregorio, who resides in Mexico. "It's sad that instead of having good memories of the United States, you're left with a bad taste in your mouth about that country because they're treating them like animals."
