ICE agent arrested over shooting of Venezuelan man in US immigration raid | Civil Rights News
ICE Agent Arrested in Connection with Shooting During Minnesota Immigration Raid
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent has been arrested in Texas following a shooting incident involving a Venezuelan man during an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota.
Christian Castro, 52, was taken into custody on Friday after law enforcement officials in Minnesota coordinated with the Texas Rangers and the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general to locate him. Castro faces four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime.
The charges stem from the January 14 non-fatal shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis, which occurred during Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration initiative that has faced criticism for its aggressive tactics. Prosecutors allege that Castro discharged his weapon through the front door of a residence, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg.
“The evidence indicates that Mr. Castro knew there were individuals present inside the home when he fired his weapon,” the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office stated. They added that the bullet penetrated the door and ultimately lodged in a wall within a child’s room.
Minnesota officials welcomed Castro’s arrest, emphasizing the importance of accountability for federal agents. Attorney General Keith Ellison commented, “In Minnesota, we believe in equal justice under the law. That means nobody is above the law, including agents of the federal government. I am pleased to hear Christian Castro has been taken into custody and will stand trial for the crimes he allegedly committed in Minnesota.”
The incident has drawn significant attention, particularly following allegations that Sosa-Celis and another individual assaulted ICE officers during the operation. Those claims were later contradicted by video evidence, which prompted prosecutors to dismiss all charges against Sosa-Celis and his housemate, Alfredo Aljorna.
The Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged that the officers involved in the incident provided misleading information regarding the shooting. Todd Lyons, the outgoing director of ICE, noted that a federal investigation is currently underway, highlighting the seriousness of lying under oath.
ICE, through a spokesperson, criticized Minnesota’s efforts to prosecute Castro, labeling the case as “unlawful” and “a political stunt.”
Castro is the second federal officer to be charged this year in relation to Operation Metro Surge, reflecting increasing scrutiny of federal agents’ actions during the immigration crackdown. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty is investigating additional incidents linked to the operation.
Operation Metro Surge began in Minnesota in December 2025. By the time of the shooting on January 14, hundreds of federal agents had been deployed across the Minneapolis-St Paul area in what was described as the largest operation in DHS history. The initiative has prompted considerable controversy, particularly after the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in earlier incidents during the operation. The investigation into the Sosa-Celis shooting is expected to amplify discussions regarding federal agents’ tactics and conduct within the context of immigration enforcement.
