ICE Officer Faces Federal Charges Over Minneapolis Shooting Allegations
Christian Castro is scheduled to appear in federal court on charges of making false statements related to the January shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer accused of shooting a man during a large-scale immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and then lying to investigators is set to appear in U.S. District Court on Friday. Christian Castro faces a federal count of making false statements concerning the January shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.
The federal hearing follows Castro's appearance in state court on assault charges, after which he was released from custody. The court proceedings are proceeding after months of legal and political disputes over whether Castro would be extradited from Texas to face state charges. Castro's attorney declined to comment after Thursday's hearing.
Prosecutors in both the federal and state cases allege that Castro, 52, shot Sosa-Celis, 24, in the leg while firing through the front door of a Minneapolis home. They further allege that Castro falsely reported being attacked with a broom handle and a snow shovel before discharging his weapon.
Minnesota authorities charged Castro in May but faced obstacles in bringing him from his home state of Texas, where he had been arrested. Castro eventually came to Minnesota to face federal charges in an indictment announced earlier this month. The federal case, in which Castro is charged with making false statements to investigators, involves his defense attorneys stating he plans to plead not guilty.
This case marks the first prosecution by the Justice Department of a federal officer for actions taken during Operation Metro Surge, a significant federal operation in the Twin Cities that led to numerous protests, arrests, and the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal officers.
The Trump administration has asserted that only federal authorities have jurisdiction over the matter, calling Minnesota's prosecution of Castro "unlawful and nothing more than a political stunt." Minnesota authorities, including the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, arrested Castro in Cameron County, Texas, on May 29, following the issuance of a nationwide warrant by a Minnesota judge. However, Texas Governor Greg Abbott refused to sign an extradition warrant, leading to Castro's release. He subsequently surrendered to federal authorities and returned to Minnesota voluntarily after being indicted on federal charges.