ICE Agent Arrested in Texas After Lying About Minneapolis Shooting

Federal Agent's False Claims Unravel

A federal immigration agent who shot a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis and then lied about the circumstances has been arrested in Texas, marking a dramatic turn in a case that has exposed serious misconduct during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Christian Castro, 52, was taken into custody Friday morning in Harlingen, Texas, facing four felony assault charges and one count of falsely reporting a crime .

The charges stem from Castro's January 14 shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national who was struck in the leg when Castro fired through the front door of a Minneapolis home . Castro initially told investigators that Sosa-Celis and his roommate had attacked him with a shovel, prompting him to fire in self-defense . However, video evidence and witness accounts later contradicted these claims, revealing a different set of circumstances entirely .

The Justice Department dropped federal charges against the two Venezuelan men in February, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed two agents on administrative leave for making false statements under oath . Both victims were in the U.S. legally through the federal government's Temporary Protected Status program .

State Versus Federal Authority Clash

The Department of Homeland Security has called Castro's arrest "unlawful" and a "political stunt," arguing that the agent's actions should be handled by federal rather than state authorities . DHS officials maintain that "this is a federal issue, and it must be handled at the federal level" .

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison pushed back against federal criticism, stating that "nobody is above the law, including agents of the federal government" . Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty called the arrest "a critical step forward" in their prosecution .

Castro is currently being held at Cameron County Jail in Texas and awaits extradition to Minnesota to face charges . Prosecutors expect Castro's legal team will attempt to move the case to federal court, though state prosecutors would still lead the prosecution .

Part of Broader Immigration Enforcement Pattern

The shooting occurred during "Operation Metro Surge," a federal immigration crackdown that brought thousands of law enforcement officers to Minnesota . Border czar Tom Homan reported that approximately 4,000 people were arrested during the operation .

Castro is the second ICE agent charged by Minnesota prosecutors for their role in Operation Metro Surge, following Gregory Morgan Jr., who was charged with pulling a gun on local residents during a traffic stop . The incident occurred just one week after another ICE agent fatally shot Minneapolis resident Renee Good .

Implications for Federal Accountability

This case represents a rare instance of state prosecutors successfully pursuing charges against federal agents, potentially setting a precedent for how misconduct during immigration enforcement operations is handled. It's part of several cases where the federal government's initial account of shootings involving immigration agents has fallen apart under scrutiny .

The arrest highlights growing tensions between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement tactics and accountability. As Castro awaits trial, the case will likely test the boundaries of state versus federal jurisdiction in prosecuting alleged crimes committed by federal agents during official duties.