An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, Christian Castro, who faces charges in Minnesota related to a January 14 shooting, was released from a detention center in Brownsville, Texas, on Thursday. This development follows a US district judge’s decision not to order Castro’s return to Minnesota, where authorities have sought his extradition since his arrest on May 29.
Castro is accused of assault and falsely reporting a crime in connection with the shooting of 24-year-old Julio César Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis. Prosecutors allege Castro fired a gun through the front door of a home, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg. Additionally, Castro is accused of falsely claiming Sosa-Celis and another man attacked an ICE officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel.
A Minnesota judge issued a nationwide warrant for Castro’s arrest in May. He was subsequently apprehended in Cameron County, Texas, by authorities including Minnesota’s bureau of criminal apprehension. Despite Minnesota’s efforts to extradite him, Castro remained in custody in Brownsville, a city near the Mexican border.
Under Texas law, and without an extradition order, Castro was required to be released after 90 days of detention, a period that concluded on Thursday. Minnesota officials have expressed concerns that Castro might flee to Mexico, citing jailhouse calls where he reportedly discussed marrying a woman in Mexico and purchasing a house there upon his release.
Last week, Minnesota’s Attorney General, Keith Ellison, filed a request for a temporary restraining order to prevent Castro’s release or compel his return. However, Texas attorneys argued that the judge could not rule on a pending decision. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has not denied the extradition request but is awaiting the outcome of an internal state investigation to determine if Castro is legally a fugitive under the extradition clause.
The judge’s order, issued Wednesday, stated that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction because the case was not yet ripe for adjudication. The order clarified that Minnesota could not base its claims on the allegation that Governor Abbott might violate authorities in the future, but rather needed to prove a violation had already occurred. The judge also noted that extradition laws do not specify a time limit for the Texas governor to make such a decision. Governor Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, welcomed the ruling, emphasizing the governor’s duty to carefully consider extradition requests. Governor Abbott previously stated he would not respond to the extradition request, citing an ongoing investigation into fraud in Minnesota government social service programs, which was used by Donald Trump to justify an immigration crackdown in the state.
