MINNEAPOLIS — The Department of Justice blocked plans to bring civil rights charges against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Christian Castro. Federal prosecutors in Minnesota had been preparing to charge Castro with deprivation of rights under color of law.

Matthew Evans, the assistant U.S. attorney in Minnesota, objected to the decision. Evans told lawyers for Sosa-Celis that Castro would be charged only with False Statements.

Then-acting ICE director Todd Lyons stated that video evidence revealed the sworn testimony of the two agents appeared to be false. Federal prosecutors dropped charges against Sosa-Celis and Aljorna one month after the incident.

Castro faces multiple state felony charges in Minnesota, including assault with a dangerous weapon. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty expressed concern that Castro will flee to Mexico.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott refused to cooperate with Minnesota's request to extradite Castro. Castro was held in jail for 90 days while Minnesota and Texas disputed his extradition. A federal court ruled that Abbott's refusal to decide on Minnesota's extradition demand within the 90-day detention limit could not be reviewed by a court, because no statute sets a deadline for a governor to act and delay is not considered refusal.

Castro was released from jail last week. Operation Metro Surge was an ICE and CBP operation beginning in December 2025 that initially targeted the Twin Cities and later expanded to all of Minnesota, described by the Department of Homeland Security as 'the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out'.

Timeline

On Jan. 14, 2025, Castro is accused of shooting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg in Minneapolis. On the same day, Castro fired through a closed door into a home occupied by several people, hitting Sosa-Celis in the leg.

Also on Jan. 14, 2025, ICE agents deployed tear gas into the home and took Sosa-Celis, Alfredo Aljorna, and their partners into custody.

What's New

The federal prosecutor Matthew Evans stated in an email that he objected in the strongest possible terms to the decision not to bring civil rights charges against Castro. Castro was charged in Minnesota with four felony counts of assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime.

A federal court ruled that Texas Governor Greg Abbott's refusal to decide on Minnesota's extradition demand within the 90-day detention limit could not be reviewed by a court, because no statute sets a deadline for a governor to act and delay is not considered refusal.

Why It Matters

The Department of Justice overruled local federal prosecutors to block civil rights charges against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent accused of shooting a Venezuelan immigrant. This decision came despite objections from the handling prosecutor and findings by then-acting ICE leadership that agent testimony appeared false.

The case involves an agent who participated in Operation Metro Surge, described as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out. The suspect was released from jail after a 90-day dispute over extradition between Minnesota and Texas, raising concerns from local officials about flight risk.