Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Texas Governor Greg Abbott, demanding the extradition of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent to face trial in Minnesota for assault and falsely reporting a crime. The agent, Christian Castro, is accused of wounding a man during an ICE operation in Minneapolis.
Ellison stated that he would seek a temporary restraining order to prevent the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office in Texas from releasing Castro. The lawsuit also requires Abbott to sign an extradition warrant, allowing Minnesota law enforcement to take Castro into custody. Castro was arrested 11 days after Minneapolis prosecutors charged him in connection with the Jan. 14 shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.
According to Ellison, Castro faces potential release from jail next week, 90 days after his detention, under Texas law if he is not extradited. "Christian Castro has been charged with breaking the law in Minnesota," Ellison said during a news conference. "He must face justice in Minnesota. Gov. Abbott should have granted Gov. Walz’s extradition request long ago and is required to do so now."
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty commented that the legal action to compel Castro's extradition should have been unnecessary. She noted that Texas authorities have previously extradited three unrelated defendants to Minnesota without issue since Castro's arrest.