ICE Officer Charged in Minneapolis Shooting Released from Texas Jail

<p>A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer charged in connection with a shooting in Minnesota earlier this year was released from custody in Texas on Thursday.</p><p>A judge declined to intervene on Wednesday to prevent the release of Christian Castro and to compel Texas Governor Greg Abbott to return him to Minnesota. Minnesota officials have sought to have Castro held while they pursue his extradition in the Hennepin County case.</p><p>According to Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Trevino, Castro was released at 6:59 a.m.</p><p>Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced in May that Castro faced four counts of assault in the second degree and one count of falsely reporting a crime.</p><p>Moriarty stated that Castro fired his service weapon at the front door of a home, knowing that individuals had just entered and posed no threat. The bullet struck Julio Sosa-Celis in the leg and became lodged in the wall of a child's bedroom.</p><p>Castro was arrested in Texas, and Minnesota has been pressing for his extradition from the state.</p><p>U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez, Jr. issued an order on Wednesday denying a temporary restraining order, noting that Minnesota charged Castro with various crimes based on the incident. The judge explained that Castro was no longer in Minnesota when the charges arose, prompting a county judge to issue a nationwide warrant for his arrest. Following Castro's arrest in Texas in late May, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz initiated extradition proceedings under the Extradition Act of 1793 and the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act.</p><p>The judge's order stated that under the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, Castro could be detained based on the Minnesota warrant only until August 27, 2026. As that date approached, Minnesota expressed concerns that Castro might flee to Mexico if released. On August 18, after not receiving a clear response from Texas regarding the extradition request, Minnesota filed a legal action alleging that Governor Abbott had refused to sign a rendition warrant, which they argued violated the Extradition Clause of the U.S. Constitution, the Extradition Act, and the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act.</p><p>The judge noted that Minnesota's request for a temporary restraining order to prevent Castro's release before a rendition warrant was signed did not meet the necessary legal requirements.</p>