Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer Christian Castro was photographed entering a vehicle surrounded by media following his release from the Carrizalez-Rucker Cameron County Detention Center in Brownsville, Texas, on August 27, 2026. The image was captured by Michael Gonzalez, associated with AP Photo.

Federal prosecutors are charging Castro with providing false statements to investigators about a shooting incident involving a Venezuelan man in Minnesota earlier this year. While the criminal case has not yet been made public, confirmation came from an unnamed source familiar with the investigation.

The charges signal a rare effort by the Justice Department to hold immigration officers accountable for their actions.

In January, Christian Castro was in north Minneapolis participating in Operation Metro Surge, a widespread immigration crackdown in the state. Authorities allege he fired his weapon through a closed door, injuring Julio Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan immigrant, by shooting him in the leg.

The conduct of immigration enforcement officers during the operation sparked significant bipartisan criticism, especially after incidents involving the death of two U.S. citizens. Under oath, Castro initially asserted that Sosa-Celis attacked him; however, surveillance footage later invalidated his testimony.

In addition to federal charges, Castro faces state-level assault charges related to the case in Minnesota. The Hennepin County attorney attempted to extradite him from Texas to face these charges. However, a federal judge in Texas recently denied Minnesota’s request to detain Castro in custody pending extradition.

The situation continues to develop and further information will be provided as updates become available.