A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer charged with lying about a Minnesota shooting was released on a $75,000 bond after 90 days in Texas custody, sparking legal battles over extradition and federal scrutiny of his account of the January 2026 incident.
Christian Jeremiah Castro, a 52-year-old ICE agent, appeared in federal court in McAllen, Texas, on Friday to face six charges of falsifying statements to the FBI about a confrontation in Minneapolis that left Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis injured. Castro, who surrendered to authorities in Texas on Thursday, was released on a $75,000 unsecured bond with conditions including a GPS monitor, a passport surrender, and travel restrictions, according to krgv.com.
Federal Indictment Rejects Officer’s Account of the Shooting
The federal indictment directly contradicts Castro’s claims that he was attacked with a broom and snow shovel before opening fire during an immigration crackdown. According to the charges, Castro told investigators he was struck by the weapons while trying to detain another man, but the indictment states: No person struck Castro with a broom as he described, and no persons wielded the broom and snow shovel as he described.
Apnews reported that the indictment alleges Castro had a short physical interaction
with Sosa-Celis and another man before they fled into a home with a 1-year-old child. Castro then fired a shot through the front door, wounding Sosa-Celis in the leg.
Minnesota prosecutors initially charged Sosa-Celis and another man, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, with assault, but those charges were dropped after video evidence suggested Castro’s account was fabricated. The federal case, however, focuses on Castro’s alleged false statements, not the shooting itself. His defense team, led by attorneys David A. Lindenmuth and Rolando Cantu, maintains he will plead not guilty, citing his military service and public safety record. His life has been that of public service to our country and to our nation, either through its military or protecting its borders and enforcing its laws,
Lindenmuth said, per Apnews.
Extradition Delay and Political Tensions
Castro’s release has intensified tensions between Minnesota and Texas, where he was held for 90 days under state charges before federal proceedings. Minnesota’s attorney general, Keith Ellison, expressed concern that Castro might flee to Mexico, citing calls he made from jail to a woman there. A federal judge in Texas, however, ruled that Minnesota’s request to expedite extradition lacked legal basis, allowing Castro’s release.
The case has also exposed internal divisions within the Justice Department. A prosecutor involved in the investigation, Matthew Evans, alleged that higher-ups blocked efforts to bring civil rights charges against Castro, stating in an email obtained by ProPublica: Castro would be charged only with making false statements over his strongest objections.
Evans was later fired, and the department is now investigating whether he violated protocols. Apnews noted that the civil rights probe remains ongoing, with potential for additional charges.
Legal and Public Reactions
Sosa-Celis’ attorney, Robin Wolpert, criticized Castro’s account, stating: Mr. Sosa Celis wants Mr. Castro to be held fully accountable for his crimes.
Wolpert argued that Castro’s statements were intended to cover up the fact that he shot my client through the door of an occupied house without a self-defense justification.
Apnews reported that the case is the first Justice Department prosecution of a federal officer for actions during this year’s Operation Metro Surge, a massive immigration crackdown that led to protests and two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents.
Castro’s next federal court appearance is scheduled for September 18 in Minnesota. His state charges in the case remain pending, and the federal bond conditions include a curfew and restrictions on travel outside the region. Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office has not denied Minnesota’s extradition request but has not yet signed the warrant, leaving the matter unresolved. krgv.com noted that Castro’s legal team emphasized he was not a flight risk, citing his voluntary surrender to authorities.
