ICE officer charged with shooting immigrant in MN
By: Terry Collins
USA Today
..... Prosecutors in Minnesota have issued a nationwide arrest warrant for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who allegedly shot a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis during the federal government's Operation Metro Surge earlier this year. [2026]
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At a news conference in Minneapolis on May 18, [2026] Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty identified the officer as Christian J. Castro, 52. She alleged Castro shot Julio C, Sosa-Celis on JAnaur 14, [2026] injuring him in the leg.
..... Castro faces multiple second-degree felony assault charges involving a weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime, a misdemeanor, according to a criminal complaint.
..... Moriarty added that, contrary to the Department of Homeland Security's news release a day after the January 15 [2026] shooting, Castro was not hit with any shovels, brooms or weapons of any kind at any time, as the agency described . investigators said ICE officers surrounded the home after the shooting, deployed tear gas, and later entered the residence, taking four adults into custody.
..... Prosecutors say surveillance video, witness statements and physical evidence contradict those claims, the criminal complaint said.
..... "A violent crime did occur that night, but it was Mr. Castro who committed it. He shot through the door of a home with many people, including children, inside, while fortunately misusing several others," Moriarty said. "Mr Castro is an ICE agent, but his federal badge doesn't make him immune from state charges for his criminal conduct in Minnesota."
..... The shooting happened just a week after the January 7 [2026] fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good and 10 days before Alex Pretti's fatal shooting by federal officers, both in south Minneapolis.
..... Moriarty said ICE Director Todd Lyons acknowledged that two ICE offices lied in the aftermath of the incident, and Castro was one of them.
..... The Justice Department has so far declined to pursue charges against the offices allegedly involved in all three shootings.
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In response, an ICE spokesperson said in an emailed response to USA Today on May 18 [2026] that these actions by "Minnesota sanctuary politicians are unlawful" and nothing more than apolitical stunt.
..... "Lying under oath is a serious federal offense. The U.S. Attorney's Office is actively investigating these statements," the ICE spokesperson said. "Upon conclusion of the investigation, the officers may face disciplinary action, including termination of employment, as well as potential criminal prosecution."
..... Meanwhile, Michelle Gross, the longtime leader of the Minneapolis-based nonprofit Communities United Against Police Brutality, who lives near where the shooting occurred, said she's ecstatic that Moriarty is taking action.
..... "We can't allow for any kind of law enforcement in this excessive force," Gross said. "We can't tolerate that kind of behavior in this community, and I'm very pleased there may very well be some accountability in this case.
..... "And I look forward to similar motions raised in the cases of Renee good and Alex Preett as well," Gross added.