ICE Agent Pleads Not Guilty in Minneapolis Shooting Case
Christian Castro, an ICE officer, pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges related to a January shooting in Minneapolis. The case highlights tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local authorities, particularly after Texas Governor Greg Abbott initially refused extradition.
Christian Castro, a 52-year-old officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges stemming from a shooting incident in Minneapolis on Jan. 14. The plea covers six federal counts of making false statements to the FBI and four counts of second-degree assault filed by Hennepin County, along with one count of falsely reporting a crime.
Prosecutors allege that Castro lied to investigators regarding the events leading up to the shooting. They claim he fabricated a story about being attacked with a broom handle and a snow shovel to justify firing his gun through a front door into a house. Hennepin County District Attorney Mary Moriarty stated that the bullet fired by Castro lodged in the wall of a child's bedroom.
The victim, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, 24, was treated for a bullet wound to his thigh. Sosa-Celis is originally from Venezuela and was legally present in the United States under temporary protected status at the time of the incident. The shooting occurred during "Operation Metro Surge," an immigration enforcement blitz in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area that launched in December 2024.
The case has underscored significant friction between federal immigration authorities and state officials. Texas Governor Greg Abbott initially refused to sign an extradition warrant for Castro, characterizing the arrest as a "political stunt" and citing an ongoing investigation into fraud within Minnesota's social service program. This refusal drew rebukes from Minnesota officials who viewed it as obstruction.
However, after Castro’s detention period expired in Texas, he voluntarily returned to Minnesota to face charges. Consequently, Minnesota dropped its lawsuit against Texas over the alleged obstruction. ICE has placed Castro on administrative leave, and he remains suspended without pay pending the outcome of his cases.
As Operation Metro Surge began winding down in February, Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, reported approximately 4,000 arrests. Federal charges were previously filed against Sosa-Celis and another individual, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, but these were later dismissed. The incident has caused outcry among immigration activists and Democratic lawmakers, with critics accusing the administration of violating due process rights during the enforcement operation.