An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, Christian Castro, charged in connection with a January shooting in Minneapolis, was released Thursday from a detention center in Brownsville, Texas. The release followed a judge's refusal to order his extradition to Minnesota.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ruled that he could not compel a county sheriff to release Castro or order Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to sign an extradition warrant. Castro faces charges in Minnesota, including assault and falsely reporting a crime, stemming from a Jan. 14 incident where he is accused of firing a gun through the front door of a Minneapolis home, injuring 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. Prosecutors allege Castro also falsely accused Sosa-Celis and another individual of attacking him with a broom handle and a snow shovel.
Minnesota authorities arrested Castro in Cameron County, Texas, on May 29, after a statewide arrest warrant was issued in May. Since his arrest, Minnesota officials have sought his extradition. However, under Texas law, Castro was eligible for release after 90 days of detention without extradition, a threshold that was met on Thursday.
Minnesota officials have expressed concern that Castro might flee to Mexico, which borders Brownsville. Castro had remained in custody in Brownsville pending the extradition process.