NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedSeptember 3, 2026Miami-Dade
Federal ICE officer charged with lying to investigators regarding Minneapolis shooting
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer Christian Castro has been taken into federal custody after being charged with making false statements to investigators about the January shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. The federal charges follow a separate state-level prosecution in Minnesota for assault and false reporting, which had previously been delayed by a dispute over extradition between Minnesota and Texas officials.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
This case marks the first federal prosecution of an officer involved in the large-scale 'Operation Metro Surge' immigration enforcement initiative, highlighting ongoing legal and jurisdictional conflicts between federal authorities and state prosecutors.
Key Facts
- Christian Castro is the first federal immigration officer prosecuted in connection with Operation Metro Surge.
- Castro faces federal charges for making false statements to investigators regarding the shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.
- Minnesota authorities have separately charged Castro with assault and false reporting of a crime.
- Federal prosecutors previously dropped charges against Sosa-Celis and another man after video evidence contradicted officer accounts of the encounter.
- Castro was suspended from ICE without pay in February.
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott previously refused to sign an extradition warrant to send Castro to Minnesota.
- Federal prosecutor Matthew Evans was fired and is under investigation for alleged obstruction of a grand jury probe related to this case.
- The shooting occurred in January 2026 during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
- Sosa-Celis plans to seek damages from the federal government.
Who's Mentioned
personJulio Cesar Sosa-Celis“Victim of the shooting incident”organizationDepartment of Homeland Security“Federal department overseeing ICE”otherOperation Metro Surge“Large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis/St. Paul”personMatthew Evans“Former federal prosecutor fired amid the investigation”personChristian Castro“ICE officer charged with lying to investigators and assault”personGreg Abbott“Governor of Texas who refused to sign an extradition warrant”personTodd Lyons“Former acting director of ICE”