ICE officer pleads not guilty to charges he lied to the FBI about nonfatal Minneapolis shooting
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An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, Christian Castro, pleaded not guilty in federal court to six counts of making false statements to the FBI. The charges stem from the January nonfatal shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis. According to the federal indictment, Castro fabricated details about the encounter, claiming he acted in self-defense after being attacked with a broom and a snow shovel. Surveillance video subsequently contradicted his account, showing he fired through the front door of an occupied home without justification. Federal prosecutors dropped initial charges against the occupants following the video review. Castro turned himself in after a legal battle over extradition from Texas and was released pending ongoing federal and local proceedings. The case marks the first Department of Justice prosecution of a federal officer tied to the recent Twin Cities immigration surge.
More context
Timeline
- On Jan 14, 2026, ICE officer Christian Castro shot a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis.
- On May 18, 2026, Minnesota prosecutors charged Castro with second-degree assault and false reporting.
- On May 29, 2026, authorities arrested Castro in Cameron County, Texas, on a Minnesota warrant.
- On Aug 27, 2026, Castro was released from Texas custody after a federal judge rejected extradition.
- On Sep 03, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Castro on six false statement counts.
- On Sep 04, 2026, Castro pleaded not guilty in federal court after turning himself in.
- On Sep 16, 2026, Castro was booked back into jail following coordination between state authorities.
- On Sep 17, 2026, Castro appeared before a Minnesota judge, who set bail at $400,000.
- On Sep 18, 2026, Castro signed an extradition waiver and state lawsuit against Texas was dropped.
- On Nov 03, 2026, Castro is scheduled for his next Hennepin County District Court hearing.
Why it matters
Immediate US impact: Highlights accountability issues for federal agents during immigration enforcement operations. Possible long-term US impact: Sets precedents for intergovernmental jurisdiction and federal officer prosecutions. Most affected groups: Federal immigration agents, local law enforcement, immigrant communities, Minnesota residents. Reader priority: Monitor court filings, official Department of Justice updates, and local legal developments.
Coverage notes
Left: Emphasizes federal accountability failures and civil rights violations during immigration operations. Center: Focuses strictly on official court proceedings, indictments, and conflicting accounts of the incident. Right: Highlights enforcement challenges and questions local jurisdiction over federal law enforcement actions.
Primary report
Federal indictment unsealed detailing false statements made to the FBI.
Sources
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
