ICE officer accused of shooting into Minnesota home arrested
Christian Castro was wanted for allegedly shooting Julio C. Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national. He’s accused of firing through a home’s front door.
- Minnesota’s Attorney General is suing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to extradite an ICE agent.
- The agent, Christian Castro, is charged with shooting a Minneapolis man and lying to the FBI.
- Castro was arrested in Texas but could be released soon due to a 90-day detention limit.
- Officials fear Castro may flee the country if released from the Texas jail near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is suing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to force the extradition of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent charged with shooting a Minneapolis man in January and lying to the FBI about it.
Ellison, joined by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, announced at a news conference on Aug. 18 that they are asking Abbott to sign the extradition papers for Christian Castro and to allow Minnesota law enforcement agents to take custody of him.
“Christian Castro has been charged with breaking the law in Minnesota,” Ellison said. “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.”
Castro was charged in connection with the Jan. 14 nonfatal shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis in Hennepin County. Ellison also said Castro told the FBI that he had been attacked with a broom and shovel by Sosa-Celis and another man before firing his service weapon.
Sosa-Celis and the other man were also charged in connection with the event and what Castro said, but Ellison said the case was dismissed against them after surveillance video proved those statements were false.
Castro was arrested by Texas Rangers on May 29 on a nationwide warrant issued in Hennepin County and remains in Cameron County jail.
The Minnesota attorney general said he is also requesting the courts to bar the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office in Texas from releasing Castro.
“The urgency of this filing is that Texas law imposes a 90-day limit on the detention of fugitives awaiting extradition,” Ellison said. “This means that as early as August 26th, a week from tomorrow, 90 days after he was first captured and detained, Christian Castro could walk free from jail in Texas and flee justice in Minnesota, including by leaving the country.”
Ellison said Castro could flee to Mexico if released from the Cameron County jail, which sits on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Abbott’s office told USA TODAY that it will not comment on pending extradition matters.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.