In a significant legal development, a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has been charged with assault for shooting a Venezuelan man during the Trump administration's militarized immigration crackdown in Minnesota. Christian Castro, 52, faces four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime, as announced by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty.
The charges stem from the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis on January 14, which occurred during what authorities called "Operation Metro Surge." Sosa-Celis was shot in the leg but survived. The incident was part of a broader operation that also led to the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were shot and killed by federal immigration agents.
State Prosecutors Assert Jurisdiction
Moriarty emphasized that Castro's federal badge does not grant immunity from state prosecution. "There's no modern precedent for what happened to the people here in Minnesota," she stated, noting the unprecedented nature of the crackdown. The investigation had been hindered by federal agencies' refusal to share information with state prosecutors.
Federal authorities initially defended the shooting, claiming that Sosa-Celis attacked agents with a shovel and broom. Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described it as "an attempted murder of federal law enforcement." However, charges against Sosa-Celis and another man, Alfredo Aljorna, were dropped after evidence contradicted initial testimony. Video footage showed Sosa-Celis dropping the shovel and both men fleeing as an agent fired.
Ongoing Investigations and Legal Battles
The Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department have not commented. Hennepin County continues to investigate the deaths of Good and Pretti, and has sued the administration for access to evidence. While no charges have been filed in those killings, Moriarty expressed confidence that the investigations will bring transparency.
This case highlights tensions between state and federal authorities over jurisdiction and accountability for federal officers. The Trump administration has argued that Minnesota officials lack jurisdiction, but state officials maintain that they cannot rely on the federal government to investigate itself.
