Federal immigration agent Christian Castro was taken into custody in Texas on Friday, following an arrest warrant issued by Hennepin County prosecutors. The arrest, carried out by agents from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General alongside Texas Rangers, marks a significant escalation in a case that has drawn scrutiny over law enforcement accountability.
Castro, an officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, faces four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime. The charges stem from an incident in January, when Castro allegedly shot a Venezuelan migrant in the leg during a botched arrest attempt in Minneapolis.
According to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, Castro was attempting to apprehend Alfredo Aljorna after a car chase on January 14, part of a broader federal immigration enforcement push in Minnesota. When Aljorna fled into his home, prosecutors say Castro fired through the front door, striking Aljorna’s roommate, Julio Sosa-Celis.
The case took a turn when Castro initially told investigators that he had opened fire after being attacked with a shovel. Federal prosecutors charged both Aljorna and Sosa-Celis based on that account, but those charges were dropped after Minneapolis police body camera footage contradicted Castro’s version of events.
“Today’s arrest is a critical step forward in our prosecution of Mr. Castro,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement Friday. She praised the investigative work of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, adding, “We’re grateful for their collaboration as we pursue accountability for this incident on behalf of Mr. Sosa-Celis, his family, and our community.”
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison also weighed in, expressing satisfaction with the arrest. “In Minnesota, we believe in equal justice under the law. That means nobody is above the law, including agents of the federal government,” Ellison said.
Castro had been placed on administrative leave in February, shortly after the shooting. The case has reignited debates about the conduct of federal agents during immigration enforcement, particularly in light of ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities. For instance, the Justice Department recently sued four states over their refusal to provide DHS agents with confidential license plates, highlighting broader conflicts over immigration enforcement.
The Hill has reached out to ICE and DHS for comment, but neither agency has yet responded.
