ICE Agent Charged in Minneapolis Shooting Released from Texas Jail

Christian Castro, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer charged with shooting a man and lying about the incident, was released from a Texas jail on Thursday. The release occurred after U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. refused to order Texas Governor Greg Abbott to sign an extradition warrant to return Castro to Minnesota. Under Texas law, Castro had to be released after 90 days of detention if extradition had not been finalized.

Castro is accused of firing a gun through the front door of a Minneapolis home on January 14, shooting 24 year old Julio Cesar Sosa Celis in the leg. Prosecutors allege that Castro falsely claimed Sosa Celis and another man attacked him with a broom handle and a snow shovel, though court documents cited by some reports state that security video contradicted this version. The incident took place during Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sought a temporary restraining order to block the release, arguing that Castro poses a flight risk. Lawsuit documents indicate that Castro has communicated with a woman in Mexico about marriage and buying a home there. Judge Rodriguez Jr. acknowledged the possibility of flight but ruled that the case was not ripe for adjudication because the law does not specify a deadline for a governor to decide on an extradition request.

Governor Abbott has not denied the extradition request but is waiting for an internal state investigation to determine if Castro is legally a fugitive under the Extradition Clause. Abbott's press secretary stated that the governor must carefully consider the merits of such requests. Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Sylvia Garcia criticized the delay, stating that it hinders due process and justice for the victims.