Brutality in Detention: A Mexican Immigrant's Fight for Justice

Sun Feb 08 2026 00:10:47 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Alberto Castañeda Mondragón recounts the harrowing violence he faced during an ICE arrest that left him with severe head injuries and ongoing medical issues, igniting calls for accountability.

Alberto Castañeda Mondragón, a Mexican immigrant, describes the brutal treatment he received from ICE agents during his arrest in Minnesota that resulted in serious head injuries and memory loss. He recalls the attack vividly, providing insight into the alleged use of excessive force by immigration officers. His case has sparked demands for investigations and accountability, highlighting the broader issues of violence against immigrants in detention facilities.

ALBERTA, MEXICO — Alberto Castañeda Mondragón's horrifying experience at the hands of immigration officers has ignited a firestorm of outrage and calls for reform. The 31-year-old, who faced severe physical abuse during his arrest, is now struggling to heal both physically and mentally from injuries that include eight skull fractures and multiple brain hemorrhages.

Castañeda Mondragón’s ordeal began on March 8, 2023, when he was forcibly pulled from the car he was in by ICE agents outside a shopping center in St. Paul. He recalls vividly being thrown to the ground, handcuffed, and then beat with a steel baton—a brutal encounter that would lead to his hospitalization and a long, uncertain recovery process.

“They started beating me right away when they arrested me,” Castañeda Mondragón told reporters. “There was nothing I did to provoke it.” The aftermath of the incident left him confused and disoriented, unable to recall even his daughter's name for several days.

Despite a growing movement against ICE’s use of excessive force, Castañeda Mondragón’s case remains one of many that have gone largely unaddressed by authorities. His injuries are a stark reminder of the potential dangers of immigration enforcement practices. The doctors and nurses who cared for him expressed disbelief at the claim made by officers that he 'ran headfirst into a wall'—a statement inconsistent with his medical condition.

The ensuing chaos has prompted local officials, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, to urge investigations into Castañeda Mondragón's case. Numerous state congressional leaders have voiced their concerns over his treatment, demanding accountability for the actions of ICE agents whose excessive tactics have caused harm to vulnerable individuals.

Though he has been released from the hospital, Castañeda Mondragón’s lingering fear of ICE remains palpable. “I can’t go on without thinking about what happened,” he confided, as he struggles to piece together the fragments of his life that the traumatic experience has shattered. His hopes now hinge on community support as he tries to recover and rebuild amidst the horror that has come to define his recent life.