An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer charged in connection with a Minneapolis shooting and for allegedly lying about the incident has been released from a Texas jail after a judge refused to order his immediate return to Minnesota. Christian Castro was released Thursday from a detention center in Brownsville after a judge stated he could not prevent a county sheriff from releasing Castro or compel Texas Governor Greg Abbott to sign an extradition warrant.
Castro faces charges in Minnesota of assault and falsely reporting a crime related to a Jan. 14 shooting. Prosecutors allege that Castro fired a gun through the front door of a Minneapolis home, striking a 24-year-old man in the leg. They also claim Castro falsely accused the victim 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, following the issuance of a nationwide arrest warrant. Minnesota officials have sought his extradition since his arrest, but Texas law mandates release after 90 days of detention if extradition is not completed. Castro's detention reached this 90-day limit on Thursday.
Minnesota officials have expressed concern that Castro may flee to Mexico. The state's Attorney General, Keith Ellison, filed a request for a temporary restraining order last week, seeking to prevent Castro's release or to mandate his return to Minnesota. Texas attorneys argued that the court could not rule on a decision that was still pending, stating that Governor Abbott was awaiting the outcome of an internal state investigation to determine if Castro qualified as a "fugitive" under the Extradition Clause.
In his order, the judge stated the court lacked jurisdiction because the case was not ripe for adjudication, meaning Minnesota could not base its claims on a potential future violation by Governor Abbott but would need to demonstrate an actual violation had already occurred. The judge also noted that extradition laws do not specify a timeframe for the Texas governor to make such decisions.
Ellison stated that his office would continue to pursue the case. Governor Abbott's press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, supported the ruling, emphasizing the governor's duty to carefully review extradition requests. Abbott had previously indicated he would not immediately respond to the extradition request, citing an ongoing investigation into alleged fraud in Minnesota's government social service programs.
Minnesota officials have pointed to jail phone calls Castro made to a woman in Mexico, in which he allegedly discussed marrying her and purchasing property there after his release, as evidence of his potential to flee the country. While the judge acknowledged the possibility of Castro fleeing, he stated that the mere threat of injury does not make the issue ripe for legal adjudication.