MINNEAPOLIS — Christian Castro, a federal immigration officer, was arrested in Minneapolis on Wednesday and booked into the Hennepin County jail on an outstanding arrest warrant, eight months after he allegedly shot a Venezuelan man through an apartment door and provided a false account of the incident to investigators.
Castro, 52, faces state charges of assault and false reporting stemming from the January 14 shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who was wounded in the leg while children were inside the home. Prosecutors allege Castro falsely told Department of Homeland Security officials that Sosa-Celis and others had attacked him with a snow shovel and broom before he opened fire. Video evidence later contradicted that account, according to authorities.
In addition to the state charges, Castro has been federally charged with lying to investigators about the shooting. His arrest marks the first federal prosecution of a federal law enforcement officer over alleged wrongdoing connected to Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration enforcement deployment in Minneapolis during the Trump administration.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Castro was taken into custody by agents with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday. He had been released on bond from federal custody earlier in August after an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in McAllen, Texas, on the federal charges. His attorney, Daniel Gerdts, stated that Castro had planned to surrender to Minnesota authorities at his lawyer’s office but was arrested minutes before his scheduled arrival.
During a court hearing on Thursday, Castro, dressed in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffed, made his first appearance in state court. He signed a pre-waiver of extradition, agreeing to return to Minnesota if he violated the conditions of his release. Senior Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Joshua Larson noted the state’s interest in avoiding a repeat of a previous legal standoff between Minnesota and Texas authorities over Castro’s extradition.
Castro’s legal team, including attorneys Daniel Gerdts and Rolando Cantu, has stated that their client intended to face the charges in Minnesota and disputed prosecutors’ assertions that he might flee to Mexico. Cantu emphasized, “He wants his day in court.”
Incident Details and Aftermath
On January 14, Castro allegedly shot through the front door of a house where Sosa-Celis had entered while fleeing. The bullet passed through Sosa-Celis’ leg and lodged in the wall of a child’s bedroom. In the immediate aftermath, the Justice Department initially charged Sosa-Celis and another man with assault, but those charges were later dropped.
The incident became a flashpoint amid Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis that drew weeks of protests and clashes between ICE agents and demonstrators. The operation was part of a broader immigration crackdown under the Trump administration.
Castro remains jailed without bond in Hennepin County, awaiting further court proceedings. He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in St. Paul on Friday for the federal charges.
Key Dates and Legal Actions
- January 14: Shooting incident occurs in Minneapolis.
- August 27: Castro is released from federal custody in Texas after posting bond.
- September [Date]: Castro arrested in Minneapolis by Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
- September [Date]: First state court appearance in Minneapolis.
- September [Date]: Federal court appearance scheduled in St. Paul.