MINNEAPOLIS — An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent accused of shooting a Venezuelan immigrant in northern Minneapolis was released from a South Texas jail Thursday after a judge rejected Minnesota officials’ efforts to extend his detention and compel Gov. Greg Abbott to approve his extradition.
Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Trevino confirmed that Christian Castro left the jail shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday. The release came after Castro reached the maximum period Texas law allowed him to remain jailed while awaiting Abbott’s decision on Minnesota’s extradition request.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and state attorneys had asked the court to keep Castro jailed, arguing that he posed a high flight risk because of his proximity to Mexico. They also asked the court to compel Abbott to sign the extradition warrant, arguing that his failure to act after more than two months effectively amounted to a refusal.
Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. rejected both requests Wednesday, clearing the way for Castro’s release.
Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris defended the ruling and said the Texas governor has constitutional authority to evaluate extradition requests.
Castro allegedly shot Julio Sosa-Celis through the door of his Minneapolis home in January while deployed to the city as part of ICE’s Operation Metro Surge. Castro initially said Sosa-Celis attacked him, but surveillance footage contradicted that account, according to authorities.
Hennepin County prosecutors later charged Castro with four counts of assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime. Castro had already left Minnesota, prompting a county judge to issue a nationwide arrest warrant.
Authorities arrested Castro in May in a Texas county along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Castro did not have an attorney representing him in the Texas extradition proceedings and has not made a public statement about the case.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison criticized Castro’s release and urged him to surrender to authorities in Minnesota.
“Christian Castro is a fugitive from justice who still must answer for his crimes in Minnesota,” Ellison said. “He should turn himself today in to face them.”
Ellison said Minnesota would continue pursuing its lawsuit against Abbott to compel him to act on the extradition request.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty also criticized Abbott after Wednesday’s ruling, questioning why the governor would use the extradition process to prevent Castro from facing charges in Minnesota.
The case remains subject to Minnesota’s effort to secure Castro’s extradition and bring him back to face the charges.
