Full Breakdown
Federal Prosecutor Dismissed After Objecting to DOJ’s Reduced Charges in ICE Shooting Case
9/4/2026, 5:51:44 AM
Core Event: Prosecutor’s Termination and Shift to Lesser Federal Charge
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Evans was removed from his Minnesota post after he opposed a Justice Department decision to charge ICE officer Christian Castro only with false statements about a January shooting. Evans had been leading an investigation into whether Castro’s use of force violated constitutional rights. The department instead filed a sealed six-count indictment charging Castro with a misdemeanor-level offense.
Background & Context
The incident occurred during Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement push in Minnesota. On a January evening, Castro and another ICE officer pursued Alfredo Aljorna, a Venezuelan immigrant, after a traffic stop. Aljorna fled to a home he shared with Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who was shot in the leg when Castro fired through the closed front door. DHS statements claimed the agents were ambushed; video later released showed the confrontation lasted far less than the three-minute timeline described, and an FBI affidavit indicated that Aljorna fled while Sosa-Celis struck the officer with a broomstick.
Data & Statistics
- Minneapolis has recorded three ICE-involved shootings since the crackdown began, two fatal.
- Castro faces a six-count federal indictment for false statements and five state felony counts (four second-degree assault, one false reporting).
- After a 90-day detention in Texas, Castro was released when Governor Greg Abbott refused Minnesota’s extradition request.
Official Statements & Responses
- Todd Lyons, acting ICE director, said video review showed sworn testimony from two ICE officers was untruthful and placed the officers on administrative leave.
- A Department of Justice official noted that civil-rights charges require consultation with the civil-rights division and are “collaborative and deliberative.”
- Mary Moriarty, Hennepin County Attorney, warned Castro might flee to Mexico and compared the DOJ’s handling to its earlier refusal to cooperate in the investigation of immigrant Renee Good.
- Greg Abbott declined to extradite Castro, prompting a lawsuit from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison that a federal judge dismissed on jurisdictional grounds.
On-the-Ground Reports
A video shared by a Democratic state senator captured a 911 call reporting that ICE agents chased a husband before he was shot. The New York Times released footage showing the altercation lasted only seconds, contradicting earlier DHS claims.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- DHS described the agents as attacked with a shovel and broomstick; the FBI affidavit asserts Aljorna fled and Sosa-Celis was the aggressor.
- The Justice Department has not clarified whether a civil-rights charge will be pursued, leaving the broader investigation uncertain.
What’s Next
State prosecutors in Minnesota continue to pursue assault and false-reporting charges, while the federal case proceeds on the false-statement indictment. Disputes over extradition between Minnesota and Texas are expected to generate further legal challenges, and the DOJ’s internal review may affect future federal actions against ICE officers.
