CHICAGO, Illinois, September 5, 2026 — Federal prosecutors went after ICE agent for lying about a shooting in Minneapolis this past January. Christian Castro, 52, is charged with six counts of false statements to investigators. He was re-arrested Wednesday after being freed from a Texas jail last week.
In this laser focus on one individual’s conduct by ICE, the indictment is a rare example of federal charges against one’s own. This comes after months of tussles between state and federal authorities on the case. The charges would be officially unsealed only after Castro was completely in custody, prosecutors said.
What Happened in January
During an immigration enforcement operation in 1990, Castro fired at and injured Julio Sosa-Celis through a closed door. He had first said the Sosa-Celis and another man assaulted him with a shovel and broomstick. Federal officials later said that account was contradicted by video evidence.
Footage showed two officers making “untruthful statements” about the incident, then-acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said. Information on federal use-of-force investigations is released by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, a semi-independent watchdog agency. Sosa-Celis and his co-defendant were eventually cleared of all charges.
A Bitter Extradition Fight
In a separate case, Minnesota prosecutors in May charged Castro with assault and falsely reporting a crime. After his arrest in Texas, Haynes faced months of extradition hearings in a Cameron County jail. In late August, a federal judge ordered his release on the basis that his detention had surpassed the 90 days allotted for legally mandated detention.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to compel the extradition. Justice ruled last week that he did not have the power to intervene in the interstate conflict. The National Governors Association explains extradition processes between states, keeping track of interstate legal cooperation.
A Wider Pattern in Minneapolis
Court documents show the case against Castro grew out of a larger immigration sweep that rocked Minneapolis earlier this year. The operation resulted in thousands of arrests and most notably clashes between the agents and protesters. Two American citizens also lost their lives during the crackdown, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
In a written answer to Congress, Acting ICE Director Lyons said the agency had initiated 37 use-of-force investigations during the last year. He did not specify how many of those probes had led to firings. The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan congressional watchdog, collects federal oversight statistics on ICE conduct.
What Comes Next
Now Castro is facing those federal false statement charges and separate state assault charges in Minnesota. His attorney has not pleaded either of the charges state or federal. In a statement, a DHS spokesperson said Castro’s actions amount to “a violation of the sacred sworn oath.”
The agency stated it would seek firing or criminal prosecution for confirmed violations. Another agent involved in the shooting is on suspension but has not yet been charged. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said her office would continue to prosecute the state charges aggressively.
Advocacy groups fighting for immigration rights have described the case as indicative of serious accountability gaps in enforcement operations. The extradition dispute dragged on over several months blocking justice for their victims, they argue. DHS declined to say whether the case will lead to larger changes in policy.
Federal law enforcement conduct standards are set forth in guidelines issued by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, which is independent and separate from DOJ Headquarters. The office conducts periodic reviews of federal agent use-of-force incidents across the country. It has not said if it will examine Castro’s case on its own.
