ICE Officer Christian Castro Arrested on Assault Charges in Minneapolis Shooting of Venezuelan Immigrant
A federal immigration officer wanted on assault charges for shooting and wounding a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis was arrested there on Wednesday, eight months after a confrontation that became a flashpoint over U.S. President Donald Trump’s deportation sweeps. The officer, Christian Castro, had been the subject of a manhunt after Hennepin County prosecutors charged him in connection with the January 14, 2026 shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis during an operation tied to Operation Metro Surge.
Castro’s legal troubles span multiple jurisdictions. After the shooting, he remained in a Texas jail for three months as Governor Greg Abbott refused to extradite him to Minnesota. He was released on August 27, 2026, after a federal judge declined to force his return to Minnesota. Instead of reporting to the Mexico border, Castro turned himself in to federal authorities when he was indicted separately on a federal false-statements charge. That charge remained under seal as of September 3, 2026. The Department of Homeland Security has suspended Castro, and the federal false-statements case remains separate from the Minnesota assault and false-reporting charges tied to the shooting.
The case has drawn intense scrutiny, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office examining whether Castro should remain in his job and whether additional action is warranted. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent has been federally charged with lying about the events leading up to the shooting, according to an indictment unsealed on Friday. The incident has become a rallying point for critics of the administration’s aggressive deportation tactics, while supporters argue that officers need protection while carrying out their duties.
Key takeaways: Hennepin County prosecutors charged ICE agent Christian Castro for shooting a Venezuelan immigrant during Operation Metro Surge. Castro was arrested in Minneapolis after eight months, following a separate federal indictment for false statements. He remains suspended from DHS as investigations continue into both the shooting and his alleged cover-up.
Shimanta Das 
