An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot a Venezuelan national during January’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota was arrested in Texas on Friday.
Christian Castro, 52, initially claimed he fired his gun in self-defense after being attacked with a broom and shovel, a claim not backed up by surveillance footage. He was accused of shooting Venezuelan national Julio Sosa-Celis in the leg on Jan. 14, firing through the wall of a knowingly inhabited house. He was arrested on Friday by agents from the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General, Texas Rangers, and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
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His arrest warrant was issued on May 18 and included four counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office celebrated the ruling, thanking the MBCA for its assistance.
“Today’s arrest is a critical step forward in our prosecution of Mr. Castro,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement. “The BCA’s investigative work was instrumental in this process, and we’re grateful for their collaboration as we pursue accountability for this incident on behalf of Mr. Sosa-Celis, his family, and our community.”
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stressed that Castro was innocent until proven guilty, but still celebrated the arrest.
“In Minnesota, we believe in equal justice under the law. That means nobody is above the law, including agents of the federal government,” he said. “I am pleased to hear Christian Castro has been taken into custody and will stand trial for the crimes he allegedly committed in Minnesota. Justice demands no less. Christian Castro’s alleged shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis appears unwarranted, as evidenced by the lies Castro told his ICE supervisors to justify his unlawful actions.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to DHS, ICE, and the Minnesota BCA for comment.
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Castro’s shooting of Sosa-Celis, involving a non-fatal shot to the leg, was sandwiched between the contested fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and was largely overshadowed by the two killings.
President Donald Trump ordered a surge into Minneapolis and St. Paul to crack down on illegal immigration, triggering a massive confrontation with local activists and earning nationwide attention for weeks. While ICE arrests have continued, the agency has been less publicity-focused following the public outcry.
