The Justice Department is considering federal charges against Christian Castro, an ICE agent already charged in Minnesota over the January shooting of a Venezuelan man. The decision comes as Texas continues to hold Castro while Minnesota seeks his extradition.
The Justice Department is considering whether to bring federal charges against ICE agent Christian Castro over a January shooting in Minneapolis, according to a person familiar with the matter and a DOJ spokeswoman.
Castro is already facing four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime in Minnesota over the shooting of Venezuelan immigrant Julio Sosa-Celis. Minnesota prosecutors allege Castro fired through the front door of an occupied home, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg.
The possible federal case would add another layer to a case that has already drawn scrutiny over conflicting accounts from federal agents.
What happened in Minneapolis
The shooting occurred on January 14, 2026, during an ICE enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
According to the Minnesota criminal complaint, Castro fired his weapon through the front door of a home while several people were inside. The bullet struck Sosa-Celis in the leg before hitting a wall in a child’s room.
Federal authorities initially accused Sosa-Celis and another man of attacking ICE officers. The Justice Department later moved to dismiss those federal charges after investigators uncovered evidence contradicting parts of the agents’ accounts.
ICE Director Todd Lyons acknowledged that two agents involved in the incident had made “untruthful statements” and said they had been placed on administrative leave.
Castro is already facing state charges
Minnesota prosecutors charged Castro in May with four felony counts of second-degree assault and one misdemeanor count of falsely reporting a crime. He was arrested in Texas on May 29.
But Castro has not yet been returned to Minnesota.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sued Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on August 18 to compel Castro’s extradition. Minnesota says Abbott has refused to approve the extradition warrant, while Castro remains in custody in Cameron County, Texas.
DOJ has not made a final decision
The Justice Department has stressed that no federal charging decision has been made.
DOJ spokeswoman Emily Covington said prosecutors are consulting with the department’s Civil Rights Division because the case may involve a potential civil rights offense. She said any charging decision would depend on the facts and applicable law.
The federal investigation therefore remains ongoing.
For now, Castro faces state charges in Minnesota, remains in Texas custody, and could potentially face additional federal charges as the Justice Department reviews the case.
