ICE Agent Christian Castro Pleads Not Guilty in Minneapolis Shooting Case

Date: September 18, 2026
Source: CNN
Topic: Immigration Enforcement, Minneapolis Shooting, Federal Charges

Former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Christian Castro pleaded not guilty Friday to six federal charges alleging that he lied to FBI investigators about a January shooting in Minneapolis that wounded a Venezuelan immigrant. Castro appeared in federal court in St. Paul, one day after facing separate state charges related to the same incident.

The case stems from the January 14 shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, 24, during the federal immigration enforcement operation known as Operation Metro Surge. Prosecutors allege Castro fired through the front door of a Minneapolis home, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg. Sosa-Celis survived.

According to the federal indictment, Castro told investigators that he had been attacked by people using a broom and a snow shovel and that he fired because he feared for his life. Prosecutors allege that Castro made six materially false statements to the FBI. Surveillance footage later became central to the investigation, with prosecutors saying it contradicted important parts of his account.

Castro, 52, is also facing four counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime in Minnesota state court. On Thursday, a state judge set his bail at $200,000 with conditions including electronic monitoring, surrender of his passport and restrictions on contact with witnesses.

The federal judge set Castro’s bond at $75,000 and imposed additional restrictions, including limits on travel. Castro has been suspended without pay from ICE. His federal case has been designated complex, with prosecutors and defense attorneys ordered to propose a schedule for the proceedings.

The shooting initially led federal authorities to accuse Sosa-Celis and another man of attacking an ICE officer. Those allegations were later dropped after investigators obtained video evidence that prosecutors said was inconsistent with the initial account.

Castro’s case has attracted national attention because it is the first Justice Department prosecution of a federal immigration officer for alleged conduct during Operation Metro Surge, according to Reuters and AP. The broader operation brought thousands of federal agents to Minnesota and generated protests and multiple investigations.