ICE Officer Arrested in Minnesota on Assault, False Reporting Charges

A federal immigration officer, Christian Castro, was arrested Wednesday in Minneapolis by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on charges of assault and false reporting of a crime. The arrest is related to a January shooting of Julio Ceasar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan man, and allegations that Castro lied to investigators about the circumstances.

Castro is accused of shooting Sosa-Celis in the leg while firing through the front door of a Minneapolis home during a federal immigration operation. Prosecutors state that Castro subsequently told investigators he was attacked with a broom handle and a snow shovel, which they allege is false. Castro faces both state and federal charges in connection with the incident.

He was scheduled to appear before a Minnesota judge on Thursday for the state charges and is slated for a Friday appearance in U.S. District Court on federal charges of making false statements. Castro's attorneys in the federal case have indicated he plans to plead not guilty. He remained jailed without bond in Hennepin County.

This case marks the first prosecution of a federal officer by the Justice Department for actions taken during "Operation Metro Surge," a large-scale immigration operation in the Twin Cities that resulted in numerous arrests and protests. Two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by federal officers during this operation.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's arrest of Castro followed a dispute with Texas authorities over extradition. Castro was initially arrested in Texas in May on the Minnesota charges, but Texas Governor Greg Abbott refused to sign an extradition warrant. Castro was subsequently indicted on federal charges, turned himself in to federal authorities, and then returned to Minnesota voluntarily.