ICE Agent Christian Castro Indicted: Federal False Statements Charges

• ICE agent Christian Castro faces federal false statements charges related to a January shooting in Minneapolis.
• Castro is accused of lying to investigators about shooting a Venezuelan man through a door, contradicting surveillance video evidence.
• A U.S. District Judge denied Minnesota's request to extradite Castro from Texas to face state charges, leading to his release.
• This marks the first known federal prosecution of an agent for actions during 'Operation Metro Surge'.
• Minnesota's Attorney General accused Texas Governor Greg Abbott of creating a 'sanctuary state for violent criminals' by opposing extradition.

This marks the first known instance of the Justice Department prosecuting a federal agent for actions taken during 'Operation Metro Surge.'

A federal grand jury has returned a six-count indictment against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Christian Castro on federal false statements charges, alleging he lied to investigators about a January shooting in Minneapolis. The indictment was unsealed on September 3, 2026. The charges stem from an incident where the agent discharged his service weapon through the front door of an occupied North Minneapolis residence, striking Venezuelan national Julio Sosa-Celis in the leg. The bullet subsequently lodged in a child's bedroom wall.

Initial accounts from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Castro himself claimed that Sosa-Celis and another individual, Alfredo Aljorna, had attacked an ICE officer with a broom handle and snow shovel prior to the shooting. However, surveillance video later released by the city directly contradicted this narrative. This new evidence prompted the Justice Department to hastily drop federal charges against Sosa-Celis and Aljorna in February, with Minnesota officials asserting that both men were lawfully present in the state and were victims of mistaken identity during an attempted immigration arrest.

The federal indictment follows earlier state-level actions, as Minnesota prosecutors charged Castro in May with four counts of assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime related to the same incident. Castro was subsequently arrested by Texas Rangers in May based on these Minnesota charges and held in Brownsville, Texas, while Minnesota authorities sought his extradition.

However, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a Donald Trump appointee, denied Minnesota's request to extradite Castro, leading to his release from a Texas jail on August 27, 2026, after reaching the 90-day limit for detention while awaiting extradition. Texas Governor Greg Abbott publicly supported this decision, stating he had “serious doubts that the prerequisites for extradition have been met” and praising the judge’s ruling. His press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, further commented that the order “rebuffs Minnesota’s efforts to conscript federal courts into commandeering the authority of Governor Abbott’s office.”

In response, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison accused Governor Abbott of turning Texas into a “sanctuary state for violent criminals,” reiterating that Castro would still face judgment in Minnesota. State leaders have also expressed concern that Castro might attempt to flee to Mexico following his release.

This federal prosecution of ICE agent Christian Castro for actions during 'Operation Metro Surge' marks the first known instance of the Justice Department pursuing such charges against an agent involved in the operation. The case highlights a significant move towards increased accountability for federal law enforcement personnel.

ICE confirmed that both officers involved in the January incident were placed on administrative leave without pay pending an investigation into the potentially false statements, emphasizing that lying under oath is considered a serious federal offense. While Castro is the first ICE agent to face federal charges related to Operation Metro Surge, he is the second to be charged by Minnesota prosecutors; in April, ICE agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. was charged with second-degree assault for allegedly pointing a gun at two civilians while driving illegally on a highway shoulder, who made his first court appearance in May 2026.

This case sets a precedent for federal prosecution of ICE agents for misconduct, specifically false statements, during operations. Lawyers advising federal law enforcement or their agencies should note the increased accountability and potential for federal charges, even when state charges are also pursued or disputed, necessitating rigorous internal investigations and accurate reporting.

Source: Original reporting via Courthouse News Service