ICE Agent Charged in Minneapolis Shooting
An ICE agent faces charges in Minneapolis for allegedly shooting an immigrant and lying about it, prompting a dispute between local and federal authorities.
Lauren Collins ·
ICE Agent Charged in Minneapolis Shooting
On Monday, May 18, 2026, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office issued a nationwide arrest warrant for Christian J. Castro, a 52-year-old U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, in connection with the Jan. 14 shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant in north Minneapolis during Operation Surge. Castro faces four counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime, following allegations that he shot Julio Sosa-Celis and subsequently provided false information regarding the incident.
The charges stem from an investigation that contradicted Castro's initial account, which claimed he fired defensively while on the ground after being assaulted. Medical records from Cambridge Medical Center indicated only an abrasion to Castro's hand, with no other demonstrable trauma, and the investigation suggested he was standing when the shot was fired. Sosa-Celis and his roommate, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, were initially charged with assaulting a federal officer, but these charges were later dropped after video evidence disproved the federal officers' narrative.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has characterized the charges as an unlawful "political stunt," while acknowledging that the U.S. Attorney's Office is investigating the agents for perjury. DHS stated that agents are held to high standards and could face disciplinary action, including termination and criminal prosecution, pending the outcome of their internal investigation. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison affirmed the charges, asserting that federal agents are not immune from state criminal laws.