ICE Officer Charged in Nonfatal Shooting During 2020 Immigration Operation
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A Minnesota prosecutor has charged a federal immigration officer with assault for a nonfatal shooting that occurred during a 2020 enforcement operation. The charges follow a county investigation and the dismissal of federal charges against the shooting victim, who was legally in the U.S. The officer now faces a warrant for his arrest.
Facts First
- ICE officer Christian Castro is charged with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime.
- The charges stem from a Jan. 14, 2020 shooting that injured Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the thigh during 'Operation Metro Surge'.
- Federal charges against Sosa-Celis were dismissed, and a federal judge found he and another man were legally in the U.S.
- A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Christian Castro.
- The county is investigating multiple incidents from the 2020 operation, including two fatal shootings where charges have not been filed.
What Happened
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced charges against ICE officer Christian Castro for the nonfatal shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis on Jan. 14, 2020. The shooting occurred during 'Operation Metro Surge', a large-scale immigration enforcement campaign by the Trump administration in the Minneapolis area. Castro is charged with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Federal authorities had initially accused Sosa-Celis and another man of assaulting an officer, but a federal judge dismissed those charges. A federal investigation was opened into whether two immigration officers lied under oath about the incident.
Why this Matters to You
This case represents a rare instance of a local prosecutor pursuing charges against a federal law enforcement officer for actions taken during a national operation. It may signal increased local scrutiny of federal enforcement tactics. For communities where such operations occur, it suggests that alleged misconduct by federal agents could be subject to local legal review and potential accountability.
What's Next
Christian Castro is expected to be arrested and will face the assault charges in state court. The separate federal investigation into whether officers lied under oath could lead to additional administrative or criminal consequences. The Hennepin County Attorney's office is continuing its investigations into other incidents from the 2020 operation, including the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, though no charges have been filed in those cases.