Federal prosecutors have charged a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer with making false statements during an investigation into the nonfatal shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis, according to a person familiar with the matter. Christian Castro, 52, is accused of lying about the events leading up to the January 2026 shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. The federal charges follow separate state-level charges in Minnesota for assault and false reporting of a crime.
The shooting occurred during Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement action in the Twin Cities. Following the incident, federal authorities initially accused Sosa-Celis and another man of assaulting an officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel. However, those charges were dropped after video evidence contradicted the officers' accounts, leading to a probe into potential officer misconduct.
The legal proceedings have involved jurisdictional disputes. Castro was arrested in Texas in May 2026, but Governor Greg Abbott refused to immediately sign an extradition warrant to return him to Minnesota. A federal judge subsequently declined to order the extradition, resulting in Castro’s release from a Texas jail a week ago. While state officials expressed concern that Castro might flee to Mexico, the Department of Homeland Security characterized the Minnesota prosecution as a "political stunt," stating that only federal authorities have jurisdiction.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota has stated that Sosa-Celis plans to seek damages from the federal government. The underlying operation, Operation Metro Surge, resulted in at least 1,700 students leaving Minnesota schools, according to reports. The dismissal of a federal prosecutor, Matthew Evans, who reportedly sought more serious civil rights charges against Castro, highlights internal disagreements within the Justice Department. A person familiar with the investigation told the AP that Evans is under investigation for alleged obstruction of a grand jury probe and that no final decision has been made on additional charges against Castro.
Residents in the Twin Cities have noted changes in how immigration operations are conducted, as the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during the same surge prompted operational shifts. The federal charges against Castro remain under seal. No trial dates have been reported.