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ICE agent charged in Minnesota shooting
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Federal prosecutors charged ICE officer Christian Castro with lying about shooting Venezuelan man Julio Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis. The case marks rare federal accountability for an immigration agent during the crackdown.
Background
The shooting occurred in January during Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota. Castro claimed Sosa-Celis attacked him, but video evidence contradicted that, leading to state charges and now federal charges for false statements.
How it unfolded
- Jan 14, 2026Castro shot Julio Sosa-Celis in the leg during an immigration operation in Minneapolis.
- May 2026Minnesota prosecutors charged Castro with assault and false reporting; Texas Governor Greg Abbott refused to extradite him.
- Sep 2, 2026A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment against Castro for making false statements.
- Sep 3, 2026Federal charges were reported; Castro remains at large as authorities try to locate him.
Who’s saying what
- Prosecutors
- Evidence shows Castro lied about the encounter, warranting federal charges.
- Defense
- Castro's attorney could not be reached for comment; no public defense statement yet.
Still unverified
The indictment is sealed and not yet public; details come from anonymous sources. Castro's location is unknown as authorities seek to arrest him.