ICE agent Christian Castro has been charged in Minneapolis with state assault and false reporting, as well as federal charges for lying to investigators, after allegedly shooting Venezuelan man Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis through an apartment door and then fabricating a story about being attacked. Video evidence reportedly contradicted Castro's claims.
Christian Castro, an ICE agent, has been charged in Minneapolis with state assault and false reporting, alongside federal charges for making false statements to investigators, eight months after he allegedly shot Venezuelan man Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis through an apartment door. The incident, which occurred on January 14, wounded Sosa-Celis in the leg while children were inside the home. Prosecutors claim Castro falsely reported to Department of Homeland Security officials that Sosa-Celis and others attacked him with a snow shovel and broom before he opened fire, an account authorities say was contradicted by video evidence. This makes Castro the first federal law enforcement officer prosecuted by the Justice Department for alleged wrongdoing connected to Operation Metro Surge, a Trump administration immigration enforcement deployment. Following the shooting, Castro returned to Texas, prompting Minnesota authorities to seek his extradition. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott initially refused to sign extradition papers, questioning Castro's fugitive status as DHS had reassigned him to Texas. Castro spent 90 days in a Texas county jail before being released, only to be arrested again after his federal indictment in early September. DHS has suspended Castro from ICE, and a civil rights investigation into the shooting is underway. Castro was expected to appear in state court for the Minnesota charges and federal court for the false statements charge, with his attorneys stating he intends to plead not guilty and face the charges. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty stated, "Governor Abbott’s attempt to shield Mr. Castro from accountability has failed. We look forward to commencing our prosecution."
