Federal prosecutors have charged Christian Castro, an officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), for providing false information to investigators regarding a shooting incident. The incident involved a Venezuelan man in Minnesota earlier in the year. Though the details of the criminal case are not public, confirmation has come from an individual not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
This case highlights a rare instance where the Justice Department has taken action to hold an immigration officer accountable. The event in question occurred in north Minneapolis in January, as part of an extensive immigration enforcement operation called Operation Metro Surge. Reports indicate that Castro fired his weapon through a closed door, injuring Julio Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan immigrant, in the leg.
The conduct of immigration enforcement officers during the operation has been widely criticized across the political spectrum, notably for incidents that led to the deaths of two U.S. citizens. Initially, Castro claimed under oath that Sosa-Celis attacked him. However, surveillance footage showed the claim to be false.
In addition to federal charges, Castro faces state-level assault charges in Minnesota. The Hennepin County attorney sought his extradition from Texas to Minnesota to address these charges. However, a federal judge in Texas recently denied Minnesota’s request to keep Castro in custody pending his extradition.
This situation continues to evolve and further updates are expected.