An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, Christian Castro, who faces charges in Minnesota for a January 14 shooting, was released from a Texas detention center on Thursday, August 27, 2026. This release followed a federal judge’s refusal to mandate his extradition back to Minnesota.
Castro was arrested in Cameron County on May 29, after a nationwide warrant was issued by a Minnesota judge. Minnesota authorities have sought his extradition since his arrest, but he remained in custody in Brownsville, a city near the Mexican border. Under Texas law, and without an extradition order, Castro had to be released after 90 days of detention, a period that concluded on Thursday.
In Minnesota, Castro is charged with assault and falsely reporting a crime. Prosecutors allege he fired a gun through the front door of a Minneapolis home, striking 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg. Castro is also accused of falsely claiming Sosa-Celis and another man attacked an ICE officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a request for a temporary restraining order last week to prevent Castro’s release or compel his return. However, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. stated in a Wednesday order that the court could not intervene, citing a lack of subject matter jurisdiction because the case was not yet ripe for adjudication. The judge noted that extradition laws do not specify a timeline for the Texas governor to make a decision.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott indicated last week he would not respond to the extradition request, citing an ongoing investigation into government social service program fraud in Minnesota. This investigation was previously used by former President Donald Trump to justify an immigration crackdown in the state. Following the judge’s decision, Attorney General Ellison posted online that Governor Abbott had an obligation to extradite Castro, accusing him of turning Texas into a sanctuary state for violent criminals. Governor Abbott responded online, criticizing Minnesota officials’ legal arguments and threatening to send immigrants to Minnesota, similar to actions taken with New York City.
Minnesota officials have expressed concerns that Castro might flee to Mexico, citing jail calls where he discussed marrying a woman in Mexico and buying a house there upon his release. The judge acknowledged the possibility of Castro fleeing but reiterated that the threat alone does not create an issue ripe for adjudication.
