Federal prosecutors in Minnesota were preparing to bring civil rights charges against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent accused of shooting a Venezuelan immigrant earlier this year, but the case has since faltered, allowing the agent to leave a Texas jail after three months of detention.
Christian Castro, an ICE deportation officer, was held in South Texas on state charges related to the January shooting of Julio C. Sosa-Celis during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis. The incident occurred amid a large-scale deployment of immigration agents to Minnesota in response to accusations by the Trump administration that local authorities were impeding immigration enforcement. During the intensified effort, three people were shot by federal agents, including two U.S. citizens who were killed in separate encounters.
Castro’s case drew less public attention as the victim, Sosa-Celis, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. The January 14 incident unfolded after Castro and another agent pursued a vehicle through snowy city streets. When the driver fled toward a nearby duplex, a scuffle ensued outside before the men retreated indoors. State prosecutors allege that Castro fired a single shot through the front door, striking Sosa-Celis.
Initially, the Trump administration publicly supported Castro and described Sosa-Celis and a roommate as violent criminals attacking officers. Both men faced felony charges. However, subsequent review of surveillance footage raised questions about the agents’ accounts. Charges against the immigrants were dropped, and the ICE officers involved were suspended and investigated for potentially falsifying testimony. No charges have been filed against Castro’s partner, who did not fire his weapon.
As the federal investigation proceeded cautiously, Minneapolis County Attorney Mary Moriarty took the unusual step of filing state charges against Castro in May, accusing him of second-degree assault and false reporting. The action spotlighted the rare prospect of a federal agent facing state-level prosecution for on-duty conduct. However, Castro’s presence in Texas complicated proceedings. Although Minnesota requested extradition, Texas officials did not act on the warrant, citing the need for further legal review, and Castro’s detention there approached its 90-day limit.
In parallel, federal prosecutors in Minnesota were reportedly preparing civil rights charges, including deprivation of rights under color of law and making false statements. Such charges are seldom brought against immigration agents and require coordination with Justice Department civil rights experts. The move could have overridden the extradition impasse.
Yet, in the final hours before Castro’s scheduled release last Thursday, federal authorities declined to proceed, and a federal judge in Brownsville, Texas, sided with state officials, enabling Castro’s release without conditions or restrictions. Minnesota officials expressed concern that Castro might flee to Mexico, noting calls he made to a contact there while jailed.
The situation has sharpened partisan tensions, with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison accusing Texas Governor Greg Abbott of enabling a “sanctuary state for violent criminals.” Abbott dismissed the criticism, calling it uninformed.
Legal representatives for Sosa-Celis and his roommate expressed disappointment and skepticism over the stalled federal case, suggesting political considerations may have influenced the prosecutors’ reluctance to file charges.
Castro’s next steps remain uncertain. He has not been reached for comment, and it is unclear whether he has legal representation in Minnesota. Following his release, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Castro remains suspended without pay.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in holding federal law enforcement officers accountable for use-of-force incidents and underscores the complex interplay between federal and state jurisdictions in prosecuting such matters.