Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Christian Castro appeared in a Minneapolis courtroom on September 17, 2026, marking his first state court appearance since being charged in connection with the January shooting of Venezuelan immigrant Julio Sosa-Celis.
Why It Matters
The case highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and state criminal jurisdiction. Minnesota officials pursued extradition after Texas authorities delayed returning Castro, leading to a legal battle that ended only when Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison dismissed the lawsuit against Texas.
What Happened
Castro, 52, appeared handcuffed and wearing an orange jumpsuit before a judge in Hennepin County. He signed a pre-waiver of extradition agreement, which requires him to return to Minnesota if he violates release conditions. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension arrested Castro on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis after he traveled from Texas, where he had been released from jail in August.
Minnesota prosecutors charged Castro with multiple counts of assault and falsely reporting a crime. The charges stem from an incident on January 14, when Castro allegedly shot through the front door of a house that Sosa-Celis entered while fleeing. The bullet passed through Sosa-Celis’ leg and lodged in a child’s bedroom wall.
Senior Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Joshua Larson emphasized the state’s interest in avoiding further delays. “The state of Minnesota certainly has an interest in not being back in the frustrating situation we were in last month,” Larson said.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty criticized the earlier standoff, stating, “You do not get to dictate how you are taken into custody.”
Castro’s lawyer, Daniel Gerdts, said his client had planned to self-surrender at a downtown Minneapolis office but was arrested before he could do so. Castro was released on bail from a Minnesota county jail on Thursday evening.
By the Numbers
52 — Age of ICE officer Christian Castro
January 14 — Date Castro allegedly shot through the front door of Sosa-Celis’ residence
Three months — Duration Castro remained in a Texas jail during the extradition standoff
November 3 — Date of Castro’s next scheduled state court appearance
Zoom Out
The Justice Department initially charged Sosa-Celis and another man with assault but later dropped those charges. Federal prosecutors subsequently charged Castro with lying to investigators, though they did not bring civil rights charges. Authorities acknowledged that officers, including Castro, made untruthful statements about the incident.
The extradition dispute drew national attention after Texas Governor Greg Abbott delayed signing the warrant for three months. Minnesota officials sued Texas at the request of Governor Tim Walz, but a federal judge declined to intervene in the lawsuit before Ellison announced its dismissal.
What’s Next
Castro is expected to appear in federal court on Friday to face charges related to lying to investigators. His attorney, Rolando Cantu, stated that Castro plans to plead not guilty to both federal and state charges. The next state court appearance is scheduled for November 3.