ICE Agent Arrested
Minnesota Authorities Arrest ICE Agent for Shooting Venezuelan Immigrant in Minneapolis
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Key Points
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Castro was arrested by Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents at about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday in downtown Minneapolis and booked into the Hennepin County Jail shortly after 4 p.m.
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Federal prosecutors initially relied on Castro’s account to charge Julio Sosa-Celis and his roommate, Alfredo Aljorna, with assaulting a federal agent two days after the shooting; those charges were dropped in February after city surveillance footage showed the men had not assaulted anyone.
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A federal judge sided with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in the extradition dispute, accepting Abbott’s argument that Castro might not legally be considered a fugitive because ICE had reassigned him to Texas rather than Castro fleeing Minnesota.
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Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris denied that Texas had shielded Castro, saying Texas law enforcement had worked with federal officers to facilitate his arrest and arguing that Minnesota had lost its effort to exercise another state’s authority.
Minnesota authorities arrested federal ICE agent Christian Castro on Wednesday in downtown Minneapolis on state charges linked to a January 14 shooting. Sahan Journal reported that Castro allegedly fired through a closed door during an immigration raid, striking Venezuelan immigrant Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg while children were inside the home.
Castro faces four felony counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and a misdemeanor for falsely reporting a crime. AJC reported that surveillance video and witness accounts contradicted Castro's claim that Sosa-Celis attacked him with a broom and shovel, prompting prosecutors to drop related assault charges against the immigrant and his roommate.
How the January Raid Led to Criminal Charges
On January 14, federal agents descended on a north Minneapolis duplex as part of Operation Metro Surge, a joint federal-state immigration enforcement action. Press Democrat reported that Castro fired through the closed door, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg while several people, including children, were present inside the home.
Castro claimed Sosa-Celis and others attacked him with a broom and shovel. But Daily Press found that surveillance footage and witness statements directly contradicted his account. Federal prosecutors initially used Castro's version to charge both Sosa-Celis and roommate Alfredo Aljorna with assaulting a federal agent. Those charges were dropped in February once video evidence emerged.
A Federal Indictment and Multiple Counts
Castro faces six federal counts of making false statements to investigators. Winnipeg Free Press reported that his state bail was set at $200,000 after his arrest Wednesday at approximately 2:15 p.m. He was booked into Hennepin County Jail shortly after 4 p.m.
Beyond the state charges, Castro is scheduled for federal court proceedings. The combination of state and federal indictments reflects serious allegations that he not only used excessive force but also made false statements about what happened during the raid.
Texas Extradition Dispute Finally Resolved
Castro had been held in Texas after ICE reassigned him there, sparking a legal battle between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Minnesota authorities. A federal judge sided with Abbott, ruling that Castro was not technically a fugitive since ICE transferred him rather than him fleeing the state.
Abbott's office denied shielding Castro, claiming Texas law enforcement worked with federal officers to facilitate his arrest. Sahan Journal reported Castro was released on $75,000 bond with GPS monitoring before his Wednesday arrest in Minneapolis, though his attorney said he surrendered voluntarily while Minnesota officials said he was taken into custody during a traffic stop.
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