OSINT Dossier: Alberto Castaneda Mondragon -- ICE Beating Case¶

Date of Research: 2026-02-11
Published by: Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Subject: Alberto Castaneda Mondragon
Type: Excessive force / Assault by federal agents
Overall Confidence: HIGH (3+ independent source categories, court records, medical evidence, expert analysis)
Classification: VICTIM CASE -- no redactions required
Priority: URGENT -- active Minneapolis violence cluster, ongoing legal proceedings

Executive Summary¶

On January 8, 2026, ICE agents operating under Operation Metro Surge arrested Alberto Castaneda Mondragon, a 31-year-old Mexican national, outside a shopping center in St. Paul, Minnesota. During and after the arrest, Castaneda Mondragon sustained catastrophic head injuries: at least eight skull fractures (front, back, and both sides) and five life-threatening brain hemorrhages. He was hospitalized at Hennepin County Medical Center for 19 days, spending the first week minimally responsive.

ICE agents told hospital staff that Castaneda Mondragon "purposefully ran headfirst into a brick wall." Medical staff immediately rejected this explanation. A board-certified forensic pathologist with 30+ years of experience confirmed the injuries were inconsistent with running into a wall. The injury pattern -- fractures on all four sides of the skull -- is consistent with repeated blunt force trauma from multiple angles, not a single-impact collision.

Castaneda Mondragon states he was beaten with fists and a telescoping steel baton (ASP) during the arrest, then beaten again at the Ft. Snelling ICE detention facility. Under standard law enforcement use-of-force policies nationwide, baton strikes to the head are classified as deadly force and are only authorized when the officer faces imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.

A federal judge ruled his arrest was unlawful and ordered his immediate release from ICE custody on January 23, 2026. Castaneda Mondragon had no criminal record. He entered the United States legally on an H-2B work visa in 2022; ICE determined he had overstayed only after his arrest.

As of February 11, 2026, no federal investigation has been opened into the beating. DHS issued a statement on February 10 doubling down on a modified version of the wall story, now claiming he "fell and hit his head against a concrete wall" while running toward a highway in handcuffs. The federal government has declined to investigate.

This case is part of a broader pattern of lethal and near-lethal violence by federal agents in Minneapolis during Operation Metro Surge, which also includes the killings of Renee Good (January 7, 2026) and Alex Pretti (January 24, 2026).

Victim Profile¶

Personal Information¶

Field	Detail	Confidence	Sources
Full Name	Alberto Castaneda Mondragon	HIGH	Court filings, AP, multiple outlets
Age	31	HIGH	AP, ABC News, Common Dreams
Nationality	Mexican	HIGH	Court filings, AP
Origin	Tlapacoyan, Veracruz, Mexico	HIGH	GoFundMe, AP
Family Position	3rd of 4 siblings (two older sisters, one younger brother)	MEDIUM	GoFundMe page
Education	Completed secondary school in Mexico	MEDIUM	GoFundMe page
Daughter	10-year-old, resides in Mexico	HIGH	AP, GoFundMe
Father	Elderly, disabled, diabetic, resides in Mexico	HIGH	AP reporting
Immigration Status	Entered legally March 2022 on H-2B temporary work visa; overstayed	HIGH	Court filings, U.S. Attorney response
Occupation	Driver and roofer	HIGH	AP, multiple outlets
Business	Founded company "Castaneda Mondragon" (or "Castaneda Construction") in 2023 per MN incorporation filings, address in St. Paul	HIGH	AP citing state records
Criminal History	None	HIGH	Court filings, AP, judge's ruling
Prior Driving Record	Only: driving without valid license	MEDIUM	NPR Illinois reporting

Immigration Context¶

Castaneda Mondragon entered the United States legally in March 2022 on an H-2B temporary work visa. The H-2B visa is a lawful nonimmigrant visa category for temporary non-agricultural workers. According to court filings and the U.S. Attorney's response, ICE agents determined only after his arrest that he had overstayed his visa.

This is significant because the Trump administration has repeatedly insisted that ICE limits its enforcement to immigrants with "violent rap sheets." Castaneda Mondragon had no criminal record whatsoever.

Minnesota incorporation filings show he founded a company in 2023 with a St. Paul address, indicating he was economically active and integrated into the community.

Incident Details: January 8, 2026¶

Timeline of Events¶

~Time Unknown (Daytime), January 8, 2026 -- The Arrest

Castaneda Mondragon was sitting in a friend's vehicle outside a shopping center (described variously as a "strip mall" and "shopping center") in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Four masked ICE agents (identifiable in bystander video) approached the vehicle as part of Operation Metro Surge.
Agents used a telescoping steel baton (ASP) to break the vehicle's windows.
Castaneda Mondragon was pulled from the vehicle, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed.
While handcuffed and on the ground, agents punched him and struck his head with the same steel baton used to break the windows.
He was dragged into an SUV and transported to the ICE detention facility at Ft. Snelling in suburban Minneapolis.

Source: AP interview with Castaneda Mondragon (Feb 7, 2026); bystander video; court documents

At Ft. Snelling Detention Facility

Castaneda Mondragon states officers resumed beating him at the detention facility.
He pleaded with them to get a doctor.
Officers "laughed at me and hit me again."

Source: AP interview with Castaneda Mondragon (Feb 7, 2026); Common Dreams

~4 Hours After Arrest -- Emergency Room in Edina

Approximately four hours after his arrest, Castaneda Mondragon was transported to a hospital emergency room in the suburb of Edina.
He presented with swelling and bruising around his right eye and bleeding.
A CT scan revealed at least eight skull fractures and life-threatening hemorrhages in at least five areas of his brain.
He was alert and speaking, telling staff he was "dragged and mistreated by federal agents."

Source: Court documents cited by AP; Sahan Journal

January 8 -- Transfer to HCMC

He was transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) in downtown Minneapolis for advanced care.
ICE agents established a continuous presence: two agents at his bedside, rotating every four hours. At times, six ICE agents were inside the hospital.
Agents shackled his ankles to the bed with handcuffs, despite objections from hospital staff.
Agents refused to leave despite repeated requests from hospital staff.
Family visits were denied.

Source: Habeas corpus petition; Sahan Journal; Unidos MN; AP

January 8-15 -- First Week of Hospitalization

Castaneda Mondragon was minimally responsive, disoriented, and heavily sedated.
He did not know what year it was.
He could not recall how he was injured.
He could not remember he had a daughter.

Source: Court filing (Jan 16); AP; nurses' statements

January 16, 2026 -- Habeas Corpus Petition Filed

Case: Castaneda Mondragon v. Noem et al. (Case No. 0:2026cv00380, D. Minn.)
Filed by attorneys from Hennepin County Adult Representation Services
Petition argued ICE had produced no warrant, no documentation, and no lawful basis for custody.
Described his condition as "catastrophic" and "life-threatening."

Source: Federal court records (Justia); Sahan Journal

January 20, 2026 -- ICE Officer Robinson Declaration Filed

ICE deportation officer William J. Robinson filed a court declaration.
Robinson's declaration stated only that Castaneda Mondragon "had a head injury that required emergency medical treatment."
The declaration did not explain how the injury occurred.
Robinson is the only ICE agent identified by name in connection with this case.

Source: Court documents cited by AP

January 23, 2026 -- Judge Frank's Ruling

U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank ruled that Castaneda Mondragon's detention was unlawful.
Key finding: The warrant was not issued until after Castaneda Mondragon was arrested.
Key finding: More than two weeks after arrest, ICE had not completed intake or initiated removal proceedings -- not a "reasonable" amount of time.
Order: Release petitioner from custody immediately.
Order: "ICE agents must leave HCMC and remove any restraints that were imposed against hospital recommendation."

Source: Federal court order (Justia, Case No. 0:2026cv00380, Document 9); Sahan Journal; AP

January 27, 2026 -- Hospital Discharge

Castaneda Mondragon was discharged from HCMC after approximately 19 days of hospitalization.
He was released into the community with no support system in place.
Coworkers took him in.
He has no family in Minnesota (younger brother confirmed this).

Source: AP; GoFundMe

January 31, 2026 -- First AP Story Published

AP published its initial story about the case, focusing on ICE's wall claim and hospital tensions.
Following publication, HCMC administrators opened an internal inquiry to identify which staff members had spoken to the media.

Source: AP (Jan 31); AP follow-up reporting (Feb 7)

February 4, 2026 -- AP Portrait Session

AP photographed Castaneda Mondragon for their follow-up reporting.

Source: AP photo credits

February 7, 2026 -- Major AP Investigation Published

AP published the comprehensive story with Castaneda Mondragon's own account, written by Jack Brook, Michael Biesecker, Jim Mustian, and Cedar Attanasio.
Story syndicated to NPR, ABC News, Washington Post, Washington Times, and dozens of other outlets.
Included forensic pathologist assessment, nurse interviews, bystander video analysis, and the victim's first public statements.

Source: AP wire story; NPR; ABC News; Washington Times

February 10, 2026 -- DHS Issues Official Statement

DHS posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) with a revised version of the wall story.
New claim: Castaneda Mondragon "attempted to ESCAPE custody and ran toward a main highway" while handcuffed and "fell and hit his head against a concrete wall."
DHS also claimed that after officers nabbed him, they called an ambulance, and he "declined medical services and stated he was uninjured."
DHS blamed "sanctuary politicians" for "encouraging dangerous behavior."

Source: DHS statement on X; Fox News; Yahoo News

February 10, 2026 -- ICE Bodycam Commitment

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons told Congress he was "100% committed to transparency" and that body camera footage from Minnesota operations would be released.
Lyons acknowledged only ~3,000 of ~13,000 ICE agents currently have body cameras.
He would not commit to unmasking agents or requiring standard uniforms with identification.

Source: Fox News; Star Tribune; congressional hearing coverage

Medical Evidence¶

Documented Injuries¶

Injury	Detail	Source	Confidence
Skull fractures	At least 8 -- front, back, and both sides	CT scan, court documents	HIGH
Brain hemorrhages	Life-threatening hemorrhages in at least 5 areas	CT scan, court documents	HIGH
Broken facial bones	Multiple	Common Dreams, court filings	HIGH
Right eye area	Swelling and bruising	AP, court documents	HIGH
Facial bleeding	Present on ER admission	AP, court documents	HIGH
Memory loss	Could not remember daughter, year, or how he was injured	AP, nurses, court filings	HIGH
Cognitive impairment	Disoriented, minimally responsive for first week	Court filing (Jan 16)	HIGH
Balance/coordination	Ongoing impairment	AP interview (Feb 7)	MEDIUM
Self-care deficit	Unable to bathe without assistance post-discharge	AP interview (Feb 7)	MEDIUM
Occupational disability	Cannot climb roofs or do physical labor	AP interview (Feb 7)	MEDIUM

Expert Medical Assessment¶

Dr. Lindsey C. Thomas -- board-certified forensic pathologist, former Minnesota medical examiner with 30+ years of experience -- reviewed the injury details at AP's request.

Key quotes:

"I am pretty sure a person could not get these kinds of extensive injuries from running into a wall."

"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."

Assessment: The fracture pattern -- affecting all four quadrants of the skull (front, back, left side, right side) -- is consistent with repeated blunt force impacts from multiple angles. A single-vector impact (running into a wall) would produce fractures primarily at the point of impact and potentially contrecoup injuries on the opposite side, but would not produce fractures on all four sides.

Source: AP (Feb 7, 2026)

Hospital Staff Assessment¶

AP interviewed one doctor and five nurses at HCMC, all speaking on condition of anonymity. All six medical professionals affirmed that the injuries were inconsistent with an accidental fall or running into a wall.

Selected nurse quotes:

"It was laughable, if there was something to laugh about."

"There was no way this person ran headfirst into a wall."

Source: AP (Jan 31 and Feb 7, 2026)

ICE's Cover Story vs. Medical Evidence¶

Version 1: "Ran Headfirst Into a Brick Wall" (January 8, 2026)¶

ICE agents who brought Castaneda Mondragon to the hospital initially told nurses he "purposefully ran headfirst into a brick wall." This was presented as an explanation for his catastrophic injuries.

Source: Court documents filed by habeas corpus attorneys; AP

Version 1.5: "Got His [Expletive] Rocked" (January 8+)¶

At least one ICE officer told hospital caregivers that Castaneda Mondragon "got his shit rocked," an informal statement that does not align with any self-inflicted injury narrative.

Source: Court documents; AP; nurses' accounts

Version 2: Officer Robinson's Declaration (January 20, 2026)¶

ICE deportation officer William J. Robinson filed a court declaration that stated only that Castaneda Mondragon "had a head injury that required emergency medical treatment." The declaration conspicuously did not explain how the injury occurred.

Source: Court documents cited by AP

Version 3: DHS Official Statement (February 10, 2026)¶

DHS posted on X a revised account:
- He was in handcuffs when he "attempted to ESCAPE custody and ran toward a main highway."
- "While running, Castaneda fell and hit his head against a concrete wall."
- Officers called an ambulance; he "declined medical services and stated he was uninjured."
- He was then transported to detention, then to HCMC.

Key shifts from Version 1:
- "Brick wall" became "concrete wall"
- "Purposefully ran headfirst" became "fell and hit his head"
- Added claim about running toward a highway
- Added claim he declined ambulance services

Source: DHS statement on X (Feb 10); Fox News; Yahoo News

Why All Three Versions Fail¶

Fracture geometry: Fractures on all four sides of the skull (front, back, left, right) cannot result from a single-direction impact. Running into a wall -- or falling and hitting a wall -- produces impact on one side and possibly contrecoup damage on the opposite side. Not four-sided fracturing.
Hemorrhage distribution: Five separate brain hemorrhage zones indicate repeated trauma, not a single impact event.
Expert rejection: A board-certified forensic pathologist with 30+ years in Minnesota explicitly rejected the wall narrative.
Staff rejection: Six HCMC medical professionals (one doctor, five nurses) all independently concluded the injuries were inconsistent with any wall-impact scenario.
The victim's account: "There was never a wall."
Internal inconsistency: The "got his shit rocked" comment from an ICE officer implies awareness of a beating, not a self-inflicted accident.
DHS Version 3 contradictions: DHS claims he declined medical care and said he was uninjured -- yet he presented at the ER four hours later with catastrophic skull fractures and brain hemorrhages visible on CT scan. A person with eight skull fractures and five brain hemorrhages does not decline care claiming to be uninjured.
Handcuffs and running: DHS's Version 3 claims he was handcuffed and attempted to escape by running. Running with hands cuffed behind the back significantly impairs balance and makes falling forward more likely -- but the fracture pattern shows impacts on all sides, not just the front.

Assessment¶

Confidence: HIGH that ICE's explanations are false.

The medical evidence, expert assessment, and internal inconsistencies in ICE's evolving story strongly support Castaneda Mondragon's account that he was beaten with a steel baton during arrest and again at the detention facility. The injury pattern is consistent with repeated blunt force trauma from a weapon delivered from multiple angles. It is not consistent with any version of the wall story.

The Weapon: ASP Telescoping Baton¶

Castaneda Mondragon identified the weapon used to beat him as the same steel rod officers used to break his vehicle's windows. He later identified it as a telescoping baton, commonly known by the brand name ASP (Armament Systems and Procedures).

Use-of-Force Classification¶

Under law enforcement use-of-force policies across the United States:

Head strikes with a baton are classified as deadly force.
Batons are trained for use against large muscle groups (thighs, biceps) for pain compliance.
Strikes to the head, neck, spine, and groin are restricted to situations where deadly force is justified -- i.e., the officer faces imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.
This standard is the same as for use of a firearm.

Key policy references:
- New Jersey Attorney General Use of Force Policy: "Strikes to the head or neck with a baton or asp are considered deadly force."
- Illinois State Police Directive: Head/neck/spine/groin targeting only permitted when deadly force is justified.
- Framingham, MA ASP Policy: Head strikes = "lethal area (red)" targeting, justified only against threat of serious bodily injury or death.
- Stanford Law Model Use of Force Policy: "Strikes to vulnerable body parts are considered lethal force."

Implication¶

If ICE agents struck Castaneda Mondragon in the head with an ASP baton -- as the medical evidence strongly suggests -- they employed deadly force against a handcuffed, non-violent individual with no criminal record who posed no threat. Under any standard law enforcement use-of-force framework, this would constitute excessive and unlawful force.

Legal Proceedings¶

Federal Habeas Corpus Case¶

Field	Detail
Case Name	Castaneda Mondragon v. Noem et al.
Case Number	0:2026cv00380 (D. Minn.)
Court	U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
Filed	January 16, 2026
Judge	U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank
Ruling Date	January 23, 2026
Outcome	Detention declared unlawful; immediate release ordered
Attorneys (Petitioner)	Hennepin County Adult Representation Services (Director: Jeanette Boerner)
Named Respondent	Secretary Kristi Noem (DHS) et al.

Key Legal Findings¶

Arrest Without Warrant: The warrant for Castaneda Mondragon was not issued until after he was arrested. Judge Frank ruled this made the detention unlawful under the Constitution.
Unreasonable Detention Duration: More than two weeks after arrest, ICE had not completed intake processing or initiated removal proceedings.
Hospital Conduct: Judge Frank ordered ICE agents to leave HCMC and remove all restraints imposed against hospital recommendation.
Post-Ruling: Director Jeanette Boerner of Hennepin County Adult Representation Services said her office was "encouraged" by the judge's order.

Potential Criminal Investigation¶

The Ramsey County Attorney's Office (St. Paul jurisdiction) urged Castaneda Mondragon to file a police report to prompt an investigation.
A St. Paul police spokesperson confirmed the department would "investigate all alleged crimes that are reported to us."
Castaneda Mondragon said he plans to file a complaint.
As of February 11, 2026, it is unknown whether a police report has been filed.
The federal government has declined to investigate.
His case is one of multiple excessive-force claims the government has refused to examine.

Castaneda Mondragon's Position¶

Castaneda Mondragon has expressed reluctance to pursue aggressive legal action:

"I prefer not to fight, I only want to recover, pay my bills, and go back to work."

"I don't know why ICE did this to me. They did not detain me, I am not a criminal, and the doctors say they were untruthful about how the injuries occurred."

Community Support and Current Condition¶

GoFundMe Campaign¶

Organizer: Andy D.
URL: https://www.gofundme.com/f/alberto-castaneda-mondragon
Goal: $100,000 for medical care and living expenses
Description: Funds to cover medical bills, housing, and living expenses until he can work again.

Current Condition (as of February 7-11, 2026)¶

Released from hospital January 27, 2026
Taken in by coworkers (no family in Minnesota)
Has no health insurance
Unable to work -- cannot climb roofs or perform physical labor
Cannot bathe without assistance
Ongoing memory loss -- "lost many memories"
Has recurring nightmares about ICE officers coming for him
Terrified to leave his apartment
Cannot remember treasured moments with his daughter
Cognitive and balance impairments ongoing

Political Response¶

Minnesota Officials¶

Official	Position	Statement/Action
Tim Walz	Governor	Posted AP story on X: "Law enforcement cannot be lawless. Thousands of aggressive, untrained agents of the federal government continue to injure and terrorize Minnesotans. This must end."
Kaohly Her	St. Paul Mayor	Called for investigation of injuries
Tina Smith	U.S. Senator (D-MN)	"There is a repeated pattern of Trump Administration officials attempting to lie and gaslight the American people when it comes to the cruelty of this ICE operation in Minnesota."
Betty McCollum	U.S. Rep (D, St. Paul district)	"If any one of our police officers did this... we hold them accountable. There's no reason why federal agents should not be held to the same high standard." (Invoked George Floyd accountability.)
Kelly Morrison	U.S. Rep (D-MN, physician)	Toured Ft. Snelling ICE facility (Whipple Building); documented overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, almost complete lack of medical care

Federal Response¶

Entity	Response
DHS	Issued statement on X (Feb 10) doubling down on wall/fall narrative; blamed "sanctuary politicians"
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons	Told Congress (Feb 10) bodycam footage would be released; committed to "100% transparency"
DOJ	Declined to investigate excessive force claims; separately subpoenaed MN officials for alleged conspiracy to impede immigration enforcement

Pattern Analysis: Minneapolis Violence Cluster¶

Castaneda Mondragon's beating is not an isolated incident. It is part of a documented pattern of lethal and near-lethal violence by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

Operation Metro Surge¶

Launched: December 4, 2025 (announced), expanded January 6, 2026
Billed as: Largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out
Scale: ~4,000 federal agents deployed statewide (~2,000 ICE, ~2,000 CBP)
Stated justification: Minnesota fraud scandals; targeting of Somali-American community
Reality: Only 23 of ~3,000 arrested were from Somalia; none had ties to fraud investigations
Arrests: ~3,000+ including U.S. citizens
Economic impact: Minneapolis businesses reported 50-80% revenue decreases

Chronological Violence Pattern¶

Date	Victim	Incident	Outcome
Jan 7, 2026	Renee Nicole Macklin Good, 37	ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot her while she was in her vehicle. Ross fired 3 shots.	KILLED
Jan 8, 2026	Alberto Castaneda Mondragon, 31	ICE agents beat him during arrest and at Ft. Snelling with ASP baton	8 skull fractures, 5 brain hemorrhages, ongoing disability
Jan 24, 2026	Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37 (ICU nurse, VA hospital)	CBP officers shot him during protest; he had legally carried handgun removed while on ground, then shot ~10 times	KILLED
Feb 5, 2026	Kyle Wagner, 37 (activist)	Arrested at 6 AM by 11+ officers for alleged social media threats against ICE agents	Federal cyberstalking charges; labeled "Antifa domestic terrorist" by DHS Secretary Noem

Pattern Observations¶

Temporal Clustering: All four incidents occurred within a 29-day window (January 7 - February 5, 2026).
Escalating Force: The pattern shows federal agents deploying lethal and near-lethal force against individuals who posed little or no physical threat at the time of the encounter.
Castaneda Mondragon's arrest (Jan 8) occurred one day after Renee Good was killed. This means agents were operating in a heightened-aggression environment the day after one of their own had killed a civilian.
Cover-up Pattern: In both the Good and Castaneda Mondragon cases, the federal government's initial accounts were contradicted by available evidence. ICE's wall story was rejected by medical professionals; the Good shooting narrative has been challenged by video evidence.
Accountability Gap: DHS has declined to investigate all of these incidents. The DOJ briefly opened a probe into the Pretti shooting but has taken no action on the Castaneda Mondragon beating or the Good killing.
Suppression of Dissent: The Wagner arrest (Feb 5) for social media posts can be read in context as an attempt to suppress community response to the preceding violence.
Hospital as Contested Space: The Castaneda Mondragon case reveals ICE treating HCMC as an extension of its detention apparatus -- maintaining constant armed presence, shackling patients, intimidating staff, and refusing to comply with hospital policies.

Bystander Evidence¶

Video Recording¶

A bystander recorded video of the arrest and posted it to social media. The video shows:
- Four masked men (identified as ICE agents)
- The arrest taking place outside the shopping center

Woman recording the video says:

"Don't resist. Cause they ain't gonna do nothing but bang you up some more."
"Hope they don't kill you."

Male bystander says:

"And y'all gave the man a concussion."

The woman who recorded the video declined to consent to an AP interview.

Source: AP (Feb 7, 2026); video referenced in multiple outlets

Body Camera Footage¶

It is unclear whether ICE agents involved in the January 8 arrest had body cameras.
As of January 2026, only ~3,000 of ~13,000 ICE agents had body cameras.
DHS announced a body camera rollout for Minneapolis-area ICE officers in February 2026.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons told Congress on February 10 that Minnesota bodycam footage would be released.
It remains unknown whether footage of this specific arrest exists.
Security camera footage from the Ft. Snelling detention facility has not been mentioned or requested publicly.

Hospital Tensions¶

The Castaneda Mondragon case revealed severe tensions between ICE and HCMC:

ICE refused to leave the hospital despite staff requests, maintaining two agents at bedside at all times with four-hour rotations.
ICE shackled the patient's ankles with handcuffs despite hospital staff objections, prompting a heated confrontation.
ICE agents did not provide a warrant or documentation justifying custody to hospital staff or attorneys.
ICE agents denied family visits to the patient.
HCMC administrators responded to the AP story by opening an internal inquiry to identify which staff members had spoken to the media -- rather than investigating the patient's injuries.
ICE presence at HCMC has caused broader harm: Patients are delaying care for fear of encountering agents. Staff members who are people of color are avoiding work. The hospital issued new protocols for engaging with ICE agents.

Source: AP (Jan 31 and Feb 7); Sahan Journal; habeas corpus petition; Unidos MN

Source Verification Matrix¶

Claim	Source 1	Source 2	Source 3	Confidence
8 skull fractures	CT scan via court docs	AP reporting	Multiple syndication	HIGH
5 brain hemorrhages	CT scan via court docs	AP reporting	Common Dreams	HIGH
Beaten with ASP baton	Victim statement (AP)	Bystander video context	Injury pattern	HIGH
"Ran headfirst into brick wall"	Court documents	AP	Sahan Journal	HIGH (that claim was made)
Medical staff rejected wall story	AP (6 staff interviewed)	Dr. Thomas assessment	Court filings	HIGH
Arrest was unlawful	Judge Frank ruling	Court documents (Justia)	Sahan Journal	CONFIRMED
No criminal record	Court filings	AP	Judge Frank ruling	CONFIRMED
Entered legally on H-2B visa	U.S. Attorney court response	AP	Court filings	CONFIRMED
Beaten again at Ft. Snelling	Victim statement (AP)	--	--	MEDIUM (single primary source)
ICE shackled patient at hospital	Habeas corpus petition	AP	Sahan Journal/Unidos MN	HIGH
ICE denied family visits	Unidos MN	Sahan Journal	--	MEDIUM
DHS declined investigation	AP	Common Dreams	Multiple outlets	HIGH
Company founded in MN (2023)	MN incorporation filings	AP	--	HIGH
Officer Robinson filed declaration	Court documents	AP	--	HIGH
Judge ruled Jan 23, 2026	Court records (Justia)	Sahan Journal	AP	CONFIRMED

Gaps and Unverified Information¶

Critical Unknowns¶

Body camera footage: It is unknown whether the arresting agents had body cameras on January 8. If footage exists, it has not been released.
Ft. Snelling security footage: No reporting has addressed whether the detention facility has surveillance cameras that captured the alleged second beating.
Identities of arresting agents: Only William J. Robinson has been identified by name. The four masked agents in the video remain unidentified. ICE has refused to unmask agents.
Police report status: Castaneda Mondragon stated he planned to file a complaint with St. Paul police. It is unknown whether this has been done.
Full medical records: Only details from court filings and AP reporting are available. The complete medical file has not been released.
Second beating details: The alleged beating at Ft. Snelling rests primarily on Castaneda Mondragon's account. While consistent with the overall evidence pattern, it has not been independently corroborated by additional witnesses or footage.
Who is "Andy D."? The GoFundMe organizer's full identity is unknown from public sources.
HCMC internal inquiry: The outcome of the hospital's internal investigation into media contacts is unknown.

Items for Follow-Up Investigation¶

Monitor for release of body camera footage (Todd Lyons committed to release in congressional testimony Feb 10)
Monitor for filing of St. Paul police report
Monitor for any Ramsey County or Hennepin County criminal investigation
Monitor GoFundMe progress and any civil lawsuit filing
FOIA request for ICE use-of-force reports from January 8, 2026 arrests in St. Paul
Monitor HCMC policy changes regarding ICE presence

Methodology¶

Research Process¶

This dossier was compiled on February 11, 2026, using Bellingcat-standard OSINT methodology.

Search Queries Used:
- "Alberto Castaneda Mondragon ICE beating skull fractures Minneapolis 2026"
- "Castaneda Mondragon lawsuit federal court judge ruling unlawful arrest Minnesota"
- "ICE detainee skull fractured St Paul Minnesota January 2026 baton"
- "Castaneda Mondragon GoFundMe Andy D fundraiser medical bills"
- "ICE body camera footage Minnesota Castaneda Mondragon bodycam release congress"
- "Lindsey Thomas forensic pathologist ICE skull fractures inconsistent wall"
- "ICE DHS response Castaneda Mondragon concrete wall statement"
- "Operation Metro Surge Minneapolis ICE Minnesota January 2026"
- "Kyle Wagner ICE arrest Minnesota February 2026"
- "ASP telescoping baton use of force policy head strikes deadly force"

Source Types Consulted:
- Wire service reporting (Associated Press -- primary investigation)
- National broadcast news (ABC News, CBS Minnesota, NPR)
- Regional/local journalism (Sahan Journal, Star Tribune, Bring Me The News)
- Progressive media (Common Dreams)
- Conservative media (Fox News, Washington Times)
- Federal court records (Justia, PACER Monitor)
- Government statements (DHS via X, DOJ press releases)
- Crowdfunding platforms (GoFundMe)
- Fact-checking services (Factually.co)
- Congressional hearing coverage
- Law enforcement policy documents (for baton use-of-force analysis)
- Medical/forensic expert assessments

Verification Approach:
- Three-source rule applied to all key claims
- Cross-platform verification across ideologically diverse outlets
- Court records used as primary documentary evidence
- Medical expert assessment weighted heavily for injury mechanism analysis
- ICE's own shifting statements documented chronologically to demonstrate inconsistency

Full Source List¶

Primary Sources¶

Associated Press (Jack Brook, Michael Biesecker, Jim Mustian, Cedar Attanasio) -- "Immigrant whose skull was broken in 8 places during ICE arrest says beating was unprovoked" (Feb 7, 2026)
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/07/g-s1-109219/immigrant-ice-arrest-beating
Syndicated via ABC News, NPR, Washington Post, Washington Times, and 100+ outlets
Associated Press -- Initial story on ICE wall claim and hospital tensions (Jan 31, 2026)
https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/ice-claim-man-shattered-skull-running-wall-triggers-129728439
Sahan Journal (Katrina Pross) -- "Minn. man hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after ICE arrest" (Jan 20, 2026)
https://sahanjournal.com/health/ice-detainee-hospitalized-head-injury-lawsuit/
Sahan Journal -- "HCMC patient must be released from ICE custody, judge rules" (Jan 23, 2026)
https://sahanjournal.com/health/ice-minnesota-hcmc-hospital-detainee-release-order/
Federal Court Records -- Castaneda Mondragon v. Noem et al., No. 0:2026cv00380, Document 9 (D. Minn. 2026)
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/minnesota/mndce/0:2026cv00380/230487/9/
https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/62550953/Castaneda_Mondragon_v_Noem_et_al

Secondary Sources¶

Common Dreams -- "'There Was Never a Wall': Man Beaten Nearly to Death by ICE Refutes Self-Harm Claim"
https://www.commondreams.org/news/alberto-castaneda-mondragon
Fox News -- "DHS says illegal immigrant injured head after hitting concrete wall while fleeing ICE, denies beating claims"
https://www.foxnews.com/us/dhs-says-illegal-immigrant-injured-head-after-hitting-concrete-wall-while-fleeing-ice-denies-beating-claims
Fox News -- "ICE acting director says Minnesota bodycam footage will be released amid transparency push"
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ice-director-says-minnesota-bodycam-footage-will-be-released-amid-transparency-push
Star Tribune -- "ICE officials commit to releasing Minnesota bodycam footage"
https://www.startribune.com/ice-officials-commit-to-releasing-minnesota-bodycam-footage/601579841
CBS Minnesota -- "ICE claims that a man shattered his skull running into wall; Hennepin Healthcare doctors express skepticism"
- https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/ice-claim-that-a-man-shattered-his-skull-running-into-wall-triggers-tension-at-a-minnesota-hospital/
GoFundMe -- "Alberto Castaneda Mondragon" (organized by Andy D.)
- https://www.gofundme.com/f/alberto-castaneda-mondragon
The Intercept -- "We Asked for ICE Bodycam Footage. DHS Claims They Don't Have It."
- https://theintercept.com/2026/01/09/dhs-kristi-noem-ice-bodycam-records-foia/

Contextual Sources (Operation Metro Surge)¶

Wikipedia -- "Operation Metro Surge"
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Metro_Surge
Britannica -- "2025-26 Minnesota ICE Deployment"
- https://www.britannica.com/event/2025-26-Minnesota-ICE-Deployment
DHS Press Release -- "ICE Continues to Remove the Worst of the Worst from Minneapolis Streets"
- https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/01/19/ice-continues-remove-worst-worst-minneapolis-streets-dhs-law-enforcement-marks-3000
MN Attorney General -- AG Ellison lawsuit announcement
- https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2026/01/31_ICE-Surge.asp

Use-of-Force Policy References¶

Framingham, MA Police Department -- ASP Expandable Baton Policy
- https://www.framinghamma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21432/ASP-Expandable-Baton
New Jersey Attorney General -- Use of Force Policy
- https://www.nj.gov/oag/force/docs/UOF-2022-0429-Use-of-Force-Policy.pdf
Stanford Law -- Model Use of Force Policy, Chapter 8: Batons
- https://law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Batons-Master-Final-Consolidated-Chapter-8-Batons-Nov-11-2022.pdf
U.S. DOJ -- Department of Justice Policy on Use of Force
- https://www.justice.gov/jm/1-16000-department-justice-policy-use-force

Research completed: 2026-02-11
Methodology: Bellingcat-standard OSINT -- public sources only
Three-source rule: Applied to all key claims
Published by: Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project

Every. Human. Matters.
Every. Claim. Gets. Verified.