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FBI, St. Paul police probe ICE arrest causing skull fractures

The FBI and St. Paul Police Department have opened a joint investigation into an immigration arrest in St. Paul that left a man with multiple skull fractures, according to newly reported medical and law‑enforcement records. The man, taken into custody by federal agents, alleges he was beaten without provocation and required emergency surgery for extensive cranial injuries; witnesses quoted in prior coverage say they did not see him attack officers before he was taken down. Local and federal investigators are now examining whether excessive force or civil‑rights violations occurred, adding yet another serious case to the stack of Metro Surge incidents already under court scrutiny. The inquiry comes as Twin Cities courts are flooded with habeas petitions challenging ICE conduct and as public anger over federal tactics, including two recent deadly shootings, continues to build. On social media, many St. Paul residents are sharing the injury photos as evidence that the official narrative of 'targeting the worst of the worst' doesn’t match what they’re seeing on their own streets.

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📌 Key Facts

  • FBI and St. Paul police are jointly investigating an ICE arrest in St. Paul that left the arrestee with skull fractures and required emergency surgery.
  • The injured man and witnesses say he did not attack officers before being taken down, raising excessive‑force and civil‑rights concerns.
  • The case adds to a growing list of Metro Surge incidents in the Twin Cities already being challenged in federal court and denounced by local officials.

📊 Relevant Data

Less than 14% of those arrested by ICE in Trump's first year back in office had violent criminal records, with about 153,000 arrests categorized as other administrative arrests of immigrants lacking any criminal record.

Less than 14% of those arrested by ICE in Trump's 1st year back in office had violent criminal records — CBS News

In 2026, there have been at least nine deaths related to immigration enforcement in the US, including shootings by ICE agents.

US witnessed many ICE-related deaths in 2026. Here are their stories — Al Jazeera

Operation Metro Surge, launched in December 2025, resulted in over 4,000 arrests in Minnesota, primarily targeting criminal illegal aliens including violent offenders, with more than 3,000 immigration agents deployed.

New Milestone in Operation Metro Surge: 4,000+ Criminal Illegals Removed from Minnesota Streets — The White House

Black and Hispanic Americans experience the highest rates of police use or threat of force, with data showing racial disparities in nonlethal and lethal force incidents.

What the data shows about police use of force by race — USAFacts

St. Paul's population racial composition in 2026 is approximately 51.51% White, 17.9% Asian, 15.84% Black or African American, and 4.32% other races, reflecting diversification since 2010.

St. Paul, Minnesota Population 2026 — World Population Review

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February 18, 2026