In McAllen, Texas, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer named Christian Castro was released from federal custody following a court appearance on charges related to lying to investigators about the shooting of a Venezuelan man during an immigration crackdown in Minnesota last winter. The indictment alleges that Castro falsely claimed he was attacked with a broom and a shovel before he opened fire, injuring Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in January.
During a brief court hearing, Castro was shackled and was released on a $75,000 unsecured bond with a GPS ankle monitor. His defense attorneys, David A. Lindenmuth and Rolando Cantu, stated that Castro intends to plead not guilty and he is scheduled to appear in federal court in Minnesota on September 18.
This case is notable as it marks the first prosecution by the Justice Department of a federal officer for actions taken during the 2023 Operation Metro Surge, a major immigration enforcement operation that involved thousands of agents in the Twin Cities, which led to protests, arrests, and the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents. In addition to the federal indictment, Castro also faces charges from Minnesota state officials for assault and false reporting concerning the shooting of Sosa-Celis.
The indictment challenges Castro's account of the shooting. According to the document, he allegedly described an incident where a man allegedly struck him with a red broom while he tried to detain another individual outside a residence in Minneapolis. Castro also claimed to have been hit with a snow shovel, stating that he opened fire while on the ground as the men attempted to flee. However, the indictment asserts that there was only a brief physical interaction between Castro and Sosa-Celis, who then ran into a home containing a one-year-old child. Castro reportedly fired a shot through the front door, hitting Sosa-Celis in the leg as the door was being closed, contradicting his previous statements.
An attorney for Castro urged the public not to rush to judgment and stated that his client has a history of public service through both military and federal law enforcement. Castro was previously suspended from ICE in February while investigations were ongoing. Initially, Minnesota prosecutors charged Sosa-Celis and another man, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, with assault but dropped those charges after video evidence indicated that Castro might have lied about the encounter.
The case has generated tension within the Justice Department, particularly following an email from a prosecutor expressing frustration over being directed to charge Castro only with making false statements, despite advocating for more severe civil rights violations. Sources indicate that the investigation into civil rights violations connected to this incident is still ongoing, with the potential for additional charges against Castro. The prosecutor, Matthew Evans, has since been fired, and the Justice Department is now investigating his actions during the case.
Sosa-Celis's attorney has stated that Castro's statements appear to be an attempt to justify shooting someone through a door without any lawful self-defense rationale. Furthermore, Sosa-Celis intends to seek damages from the federal government, highlighting the seriousness of the situation and the potential consequences for Castro.
This story was later corrected to clarify that court records do not indicate Castro entered a not guilty plea on the day of the hearing, though his legal team expects to file this plea in future proceedings.
