ICE Officer Denies Charges of Lying in Minneapolis Shooting Case
WHO:
CNN - Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Christian Castro, 52 years old.
CNN - Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, 24 years old, the Venezuelan man shot by Castro.
CNN - Defense attorney Daniel Gerdts.
CNN - Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
CNN - President Donald Trump’s administration.
WHAT:
Fox News - Christian Castro faces six federal counts of making materially false statements regarding the January shooting incident.
Fox News - Surveillance footage reportedly contradicts Castro's account of being attacked with a broom and shovel before he fired his weapon.
ABC News - Castro was instructed by a judge to travel only between Minnesota and South Texas and must report any altercation with law enforcement within 72 hours.
CNN - Castro's federal hearing occurred a day after he appeared in state court on assault charges and was released from custody.
ABC News - Castro appeared in a black suit with an electronic monitor visible at his ankle during the federal hearing.
ABC News - The case is the first Justice Department prosecution of a federal officer for actions taken during this year’s Operation Metro Surge.
ABC News - Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott refused to sign an extradition warrant for Castro last month.
CNN - Christian Castro pleaded not guilty to federal charges of making false statements to the FBI.
CNN - Castro was indicted on six federal counts related to the January 14 shooting.
CNN - Castro shot Sosa-Celis in the leg while firing through the front door of a Minneapolis home.
CNN - Castro allegedly lied to investigators about being attacked with a broom handle and a snow shovel.
CNN - Castro was released on a $75,000 bond and ordered to wear a GPS ankle monitor.
CNN - The US Department of Homeland Security suspended Castro without pay.
WHERE:
CNN - The shooting occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
CNN - Castro was arrested in Cameron County, Texas.
CNN - Castro appeared before a US magistrate judge in Minnesota.
WHEN:
CNN - The shooting incident involving Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis occurred on January 14.
CNN - Castro was indicted earlier this month.
CNN - Castro was arrested on May 29.
CNN - Minnesota prosecutors charged Castro in May.
WHY:
ABC News - Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's refusal to sign the extradition warrant was partly tied to ongoing investigations of massive fraud in government social service programs in Minnesota.
ABC News - Abbott tied his refusal to sign the extradition warrant to ongoing investigations of massive fraud in government social service programs in Minnesota.
CNN - The Department of Homeland Security claimed Minnesota’s prosecution of Castro is “unlawful and nothing more than a political stunt.”
CNN - Minnesota officials expressed concerns that Castro might flee across the US-Mexico border.
HOW:
CNN - Castro was previously held in Texas custody for about 90 days before being released.
ABC News - Castro was told to surrender his passport and any personal firearms during an earlier hearing before a federal judge in Texas.
CNN - Castro returned to Minnesota voluntarily after being released from a Texas jail.
CNN - Minnesota sought Castro's extradition under a nationwide warrant issued by a judge.
(UPDATED September 18, 2026 19:00 UTC)
Christian Castro is facing six federal counts for allegedly making materially false statements related to a shooting incident, with surveillance footage reportedly contradicting his claim of being attacked before he fired his weapon. A judge has ordered Castro to travel only between Minnesota and South Texas and to report any law enforcement altercations within 72 hours, while Texas Governor Greg Abbott's refusal to sign the extradition warrant is linked to ongoing investigations into significant fraud in Minnesota's social service programs. Castro had previously spent about 90 days in Texas custody before his release.
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(UPDATED September 18, 2026 17:02 UTC)
Castro's federal hearing took place just a day after he was released from custody following an appearance in state court on assault charges. Dressed in a black suit with an electronic monitor on his ankle, this case marks the first Justice Department prosecution of a federal officer for actions taken during this year's Operation Metro Surge. Texas Governor Greg Abbott previously refused to sign an extradition warrant for Castro, linking his decision to ongoing investigations into significant fraud in government social service programs in Minnesota.
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(UPDATED September 18, 2026 16:03 UTC)
Christian Castro, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of making false statements to the FBI following a shooting incident in Minneapolis where he shot 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg on January 14. Castro was indicted on six federal counts earlier this month and was released on a $75,000 bond, while the Department of Homeland Security has suspended him without pay, calling the prosecution a political stunt. After being arrested in Cameron County, Texas, Castro voluntarily returned to Minnesota to face the charges, where he appeared before a US magistrate judge.