An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer entered a not guilty plea on Friday to federal charges that he made false statements to investigators about the circumstances surrounding the shooting of a Venezuelan man during a January operation in Minneapolis.
Christian Castro, 52, appeared before a magistrate judge in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was arraigned on a six-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in early September. The charges allege that Castro made materially false statements to federal agents during the probe into the Jan. 14 incident, in which one of three men who scuffled with the officer was shot in the thigh and taken to a hospital.
This case marks the first time the Justice Department has prosecuted a federal immigration officer for conduct tied to Operation Metro Surge, a targeted enforcement initiative in the Twin Cities. Castro, who has reportedly been suspended without pay, is the central figure in what has become a politically charged legal saga.
His attorney, Michael Wynn, told reporters that Castro voluntarily surrendered in both state and federal court and has been released on bond. “We look forward to litigating these matters and to presenting our case in court and exonerating him,” Wynn said.
According to court documents, the initial account provided by the Department of Homeland Security claimed that Castro fired a “defensive shot” after being attacked with a snow shovel and a broom handle. However, additional video evidence reviewed by investigators contradicted that narrative, showing that the three men had dropped the items and were running toward a nearby apartment “as soon as [they] saw his pistol.” Roughly a month after the shooting, DHS acknowledged it was probing “untruthful statements” made by the officer.
The case has also ignited a cross-state dispute between Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat. After Castro was jailed in Texas in late May, Walz accused Abbott of delaying the extradition paperwork needed to transfer him to Minnesota to face state assault charges. A federal judge declined to intervene, and Castro was released after 90 days. He was arrested again by Minnesota authorities on Wednesday and made his initial state court appearance the following day.
As part of his federal bond conditions, Castro is required to wear a GPS ankle monitor and is barred from possessing firearms. The federal case adds another layer to the scrutiny facing ICE operations, which have been a flashpoint in the immigration debate. For more on the broader tensions surrounding enforcement, see this look at political divisions over immigration crackdowns.
Friday’s arraignment concludes a turbulent period for Castro, who has seen his case become a symbol of the legal and political battles over federal immigration actions. The shooting occurred during an operation that has drawn attention to the use of force by officers, and the outcome of this prosecution could have implications for how such incidents are handled and reported. For context on the local impact, this summary of the initial arrest provides further details. As the case proceeds, both state and federal proceedings will continue to unfold, with Castro’s defense team vowing to fight the charges.
