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A federal judge has ordered the government to pay $15,800.17 in attorney's fees for a man who says ICE agents fractured his skull when they arrested him earlier this year. 

In January, Alberto Castañeda Mondragón 

 after he said ICE agents in St. Paul dragged him from a vehicle, threw him to the ground and repeatedly struck him in the head with a steel baton. According to court documents, ICE agents told hospital staff that Castañeda Mondragón caused his head injuries by running while handcuffed into a brick wall. Healthcare workers told reporters that the account was inconsistent with the extent of the man’s injuries.

In an order and memorandum filed May 29, Judge Donovan Frank said the circumstances in this case warranted compensation for legal fees. 

“Petitioner had severe head injuries and was in a coma. This made it difficult to collect information for Petitioner’s case and develop a litigation strategy,” wrote Frank. “Moreover, and as the Court observed in its order granting the Petition, ICE agents were not forthcoming about the details of Petitioner’s arrest.” 

Attorneys had filed a petition for habeas corpus to release Castañeda Mondragón from the custody of ICE agents while he was treated in the hospital for his injuries. 

 with the Associated Press, Castañeda Mondragón said he was still injured and was unable to work.

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Alberto Castañeda Mondragón was hospitalized after he said ICE agents in St. Paul dragged him from a vehicle, threw him to the ground and repeatedly struck him in the head with a steel baton. ICE agents told hospital staff that the man ran while handcuffed into a brick wall. 

Alberto Castañeda Mondragón poses for portrait

Court orders payment of legal fees for man who claims ICE agents fractured his skull

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