ICE Officer Released in Texas After Extradition Request Denied
A federal judge has declined to order the extradition of a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer facing charges in Minnesota, clearing the way for his release from a Texas jail. Christian Castro walked free on Thursday after a 90-day detention limit under Texas law expired without an extradition order.
Castro faces charges in Minnesota including four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime, stemming from the January 14 shooting of 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. Prosecutors allege Castro fired through the front door of a Minneapolis home, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg, and later falsely claimed that Sosa-Celis and another man had attacked an ICE officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel.
The case has become a flashpoint between Texas and Minnesota, with Governor Greg Abbott declining to sign an extradition warrant while an internal investigation determines whether Castro legally qualifies as a “fugitive.” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a request for a temporary restraining order last week, seeking to block Castro's release or compel his return to Minnesota.
The Legal Dispute
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ruled that he lacked jurisdiction to intervene, writing in his order that he could not prevent a county sheriff from releasing Castro or order Governor Abbott to sign the extradition warrant. Texas attorneys argued that the court could not rule on a decision still pending before state authorities.
The judge noted that Texas extradition law does not set a specific timeframe for the governor's decision. Under state law, Castro was required to be released after 90 days of detention — a deadline that fell on Thursday — unless he was formally extradited.
Castro was arrested in Cameron County on May 29 after a Minnesota judge issued a nationwide warrant. He had been held at a facility in Brownsville, near the U.S.-Mexico border, pending the extradition decision.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sought a temporary restraining order to block Castro's release, but Rodriguez ruled that the federal court lacked jurisdiction because the extradition request was still pending before Texas authorities.
The judge acknowledged that Castro could flee the country after his release, but concluded that the potential for flight alone did not warrant federal intervention.
Background of the Case
Castro is accused of shooting Sosa-Celis during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. According to charging documents, he fired through the front door of a home, striking the 24-year-old in the leg. Prosecutors also allege he falsely reported that Sosa-Celis and another person attacked an ICE officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel.
Castro was arrested by Texas authorities on May 29 after Minnesota issued a nationwide arrest warrant. Minnesota officials had been seeking his extradition since then.
Differing State Positions
The case has highlighted tensions between Texas and Minnesota over the federal immigration crackdown. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has not formally denied the extradition request, but his office has said it is awaiting the outcome of an internal review into whether Castro qualifies as a “fugitive” under the extradition clause.
Minnesota officials have argued that Castro should be returned to face the charges, warning that he could flee to Mexico given Brownsville's proximity to the border. The judge acknowledged the risk but said the legal standards for federal intervention were not met.
Castro's release does not end the legal proceedings. The charges against him in Minnesota remain pending, and Texas authorities could still act on the extradition request in the future.