ICE Agent Charged With Sealed Federal Charges for Lying About Minneapolis Shooting

POLICY WIRE — Washington, USA — Federal authorities have charged a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer with providing false information to investigators regarding the shooting of a Venezuelan national during a Minneapolis immigration sweep.

Christian Castro is accused of lying about the circumstances that led to him shooting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg this past January. The federal charges are currently under seal, according to a source familiar with the case who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The federal action comes shortly after Castro was released from custody last week. His release occurred after Texas Governor Greg Abbott declined to promptly sign an extradition warrant to send him to Minnesota, where he already faces state charges for false reporting and assault.

The incident occurred during Operation Metro Surge, a massive Department of Homeland Security effort in the Twin Cities starting in January 2026. This operation, the largest of its kind, involved thousands of officers and was marred by the shooting deaths of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Castro is the first federal immigration agent to be prosecuted by the Trump administration in connection with the operation. It is currently unclear if he has legal representation for the Minnesota case, as no attorney is listed.

Initially, federal agents claimed that Sosa-Celis and another individual had assaulted an officer using a snow shovel and a broom handle. However, those charges were dropped after video footage suggested the officers had been untruthful about the encounter, sparking the current investigation.

Robin Wolpert, the attorney representing Sosa-Celis, argued that the Justice Department has grossly undercharged the case. Wolpert stated that Castro’s false claims were intended to hide the fact that he shot her client through the door of a residence without any justification for self-defense.

The American Liberties Union of Minnesota announced Thursday that Sosa-Celis intends to pursue damages from the federal government. Wolpert added that her client wants Castro to be held fully accountable for his actions.

Controversy has also emerged regarding the severity of the charges. ProPublica reported that a federal prosecutor, Matthew Evans, told victims’ lawyers that Justice Department leadership blocked his attempt to file more serious civil rights charges.

However, a source familiar with the probe disputed this, claiming the civil rights investigation is ongoing and no final decision has been made. That same source noted that Evans has been fired and is being investigated for allegedly obstructing a grand jury.

An automated response from Evans’ Justice Department email indicates he is currently on leave, and further attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.

The legal battle over Castro’s location intensified when Minnesota officials attempted to prevent the Cameron County, Texas, sheriff from releasing him. Minnesota filed a lawsuit alleging Castro discussed moving to Mexico and marrying a woman he met while incarcerated.

Governor Abbott’s delay in extradition was linked to ongoing investigations into Minnesota’s government social service fraud, a primary justification used by the Trump administration for the crackdown.

Castro was eventually released a week ago after a federal judge declined to compel Texas to extradite him. The Department of Homeland Security previously dismissed Minnesota’s state prosecution as a political stunt, asserting that only federal authorities have jurisdiction.

Castro, 52, was suspended without pay from ICE in February. Minnesota prosecutors allege he fired through a front door, hitting Sosa-Celis in the thigh, after chasing another man, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, to a duplex.

At the time of the suspension, acting ICE director Todd Lyons stated that violations of the agency’s sworn oath would not be tolerated, emphasizing the need for integrity, professionalism, and accountability.

Attorneys for Aljorna and Sosa-Celis did not immediately respond to inquiries on Thursday.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)