Full Breakdown
ICE Agent Christian Castro Charged with False Statements Over Minneapolis Shooting
9/8/2026, 8:11:24 PM
Core Event
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Christian Castro, 52, was indicted on six counts of making materially false statements about a January shooting in north Minneapolis. Castro claimed he was assaulted with a broom and a snow shovel, that a struggle lasted three minutes, and that he fired while lying on his back. Video and the grand-jury indictment show the altercation lasted about eleven seconds, Castro was standing, and his single shot struck Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg. Castro pleaded not guilty in a Texas federal court, was released on a $75,000 unsecured bond, and fitted with a GPS ankle monitor.
Background & Context
The shooting occurred during Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement sweep in the Twin Cities that produced three agent-involved shootings, two fatal. ICE agents faced criticism for alleged racial profiling and excessive force. Castro is the only ICE officer from the operation now federally charged.
Data & Statistics
- Charges: Six counts of false statements.
- Bond: $75,000 unsecured, GPS monitoring required.
- Timeline: Castro described a three-minute struggle; indictment records an eleven-second encounter.
- Injuries: Sosa-Celis sustained a leg wound; a child’s bedroom closet was struck by the bullet.
- State Charges: Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty filed four counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of false reporting.
Official Statements & Responses
Moriarty warned Castro might flee to Mexico and pledged to see him tried. Attorney Robin Wolpert, representing Sosa-Celis, said the federal government had “grossly undercharged this case.” Texas Governor Greg Abbott declined to extradite Castro, leaving him in Texas pending a September hearing.
Criticism & Opposition
Moriarty criticized the DOJ’s decision to limit charges, comparing it to the handling of the earlier ICE shooting of Renee Good. The ACLU of Minnesota announced that Sosa-Celis intends to seek damages from the federal government, highlighting concerns about accountability for immigration-agent violence.
On-the-Ground Reports
Court documents indicate two one-year-old children and two women were inside the duplex when Castro fired. After the shot, ICE agents deployed tear gas, detained the men and their partners, and later dropped assault charges once video evidence contradicted Castro’s narrative.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Narrative Discrepancy: Castro’s claim of being beaten and firing while on his back is contradicted by traffic-camera footage showing him standing.
- DOJ Charge Decision: Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Evans objected to limiting the case to false-statement charges; the DOJ cited internal deliberation for the charge selection. Evans was later placed on leave and fired, prompting an internal DOJ investigation.
- Extradition Stalemate: Texas officials have refused to hand Castro over to Minnesota, leaving state-level assault charges pending.
What’s Next
A federal hearing in mid-September will address the pending state charges and the extradition dispute. The civil-rights probe by Minnesota prosecutors remains open, and the DOJ’s investigation into Evans’ conduct continues. Further developments will determine whether additional federal charges are pursued and how the case influences oversight of ICE operations.
