ICE Officer Charged with Lying in Shooting of Venezuelan Man

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer has been charged with lying to investigators about the events leading up to the shooting of a Venezuelan man during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. Christian Castro turned himself in to federal authorities on Thursday, facing charges of making false statements regarding the shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in January, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Castro was taken into custody following his release from jail last week after Texas Governor Greg Abbott declined to sign an extradition warrant to transfer him to Minnesota, where he faces separate charges of assault and false reporting related to the same incident. Initially, federal authorities accused Sosa-Celis and another man of assaulting an officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel during the confrontation. However, federal prosecutors dropped the charges against them after video evidence suggested that the officers may have misrepresented the encounter, prompting an investigation. Castro is the first federal immigration officer to face prosecution under the Trump administration for actions taken during the Operation Metro Surge, which began in January 2026. No attorney is listed for Castro, and it is unclear if he has legal representation. Thousands of officers were deployed to the Minneapolis and St. Paul area by the Department of Homeland Security as part of this operation, which has faced scrutiny following the shooting deaths of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers. A federal prosecutor involved in the case reportedly informed lawyers for Sosa-Celis and other victims that Justice Department officials blocked efforts to pursue a more serious civil rights charge against Castro. However, the source familiar with the investigation disputed this characterization, stating that the civil rights probe is ongoing and that no final decision has been made regarding additional charges. The prosecutor, Matthew Evans, has since been fired and is under investigation for alleged obstruction of a grand jury probe. An attorney representing Sosa-Celis criticized the Justice Department for what they described as grossly undercharging the case, asserting that Castro's statements were intended to conceal the fact that he shot Sosa-Celis through the door of an occupied residence without justification for self-defense. The attorney, Robin Wolpert, stated that Sosa-Celis seeks full accountability for Castro's actions. Additionally, the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota announced that Sosa-Celis plans to seek damages from the federal government. Castro was initially arrested in May in connection with the Minnesota case and was held in custody in Brownsville, Texas, while Minnesota officials sought his extradition. However, Governor Abbott cited ongoing investigations into fraud in government social service programs in Minnesota as justification for not signing the extradition warrant. Minnesota officials expressed concerns that Castro might flee to Mexico, referencing a conversation he allegedly had while incarcerated about marrying a woman and purchasing a home in Mexico after his release. Castro was ultimately released after a federal judge declined to order his extradition. The Department of Homeland Security has criticized Minnesota's prosecution of Castro as unlawful, asserting that only federal authorities have jurisdiction in the matter. Castro was placed on leave without pay during the federal investigation. The acting director of ICE at the time, Todd Lyons, stated that the agency's personnel are expected to uphold the law and maintain high standards of professionalism and integrity. Minnesota officials allege that Castro, 52, shot Sosa-Celis in the thigh through the front door of a residence while pursuing another individual, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, to the apartment where Sosa-Celis lived. Prosecutors claim that Castro falsely accused Sosa-Celis and another man of attacking an ICE officer.