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ICE agent arrested in shooting of immigrant in Minnesota
USA Today • • general
Key Points:
- Christian Castro, a 52-year-old ICE agent, was arrested in Minnesota on Sept. 16 in connection with the Jan. 14 shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis, facing felony assault and misdemeanor charges including falsely reporting a crime.
- The shooting occurred during the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge, with Castro accused of firing through a home door and hitting Sosa-Celis while others, including children, were inside.
- Castro was previously held in a Texas jail awaiting extradition to Minnesota, but Texas Governor Greg Abbott initially refused extradition, leading to a legal dispute between the states.
- In addition to state charges, Castro was federally indicted on six counts of making false statements, marking the first DOJ prosecution of a federal officer related to Operation Metro Surge; DHS has suspended him pending case outcome.
- Castro's lawyers assert he intends to face the charges and dispute claims he would flee, while Minnesota prosecutors emphasize accountability for the violent crime attributed to Castro.
