BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Minnesota officials and legal experts are raising questions about interstate extradition after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer charged in a Minneapolis shooting was released from Cameron County custody.
Christian Castro left the Carrizalez-Rucker Cameron County Detention Center early Thursday after a federal judge declined Minnesota’s request to prevent his release. Minnesota had sought his return on assault and false-reporting charges connected to the Jan. 14 shooting of 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis during an immigration enforcement operation.
Prosecutors allege Castro fired through the front door of a Minneapolis residence and wounded Sosa-Celis in the leg. They also accuse Castro of falsely reporting that Sosa-Celis and another man attacked an officer with a broom handle and snow shovel. The allegations have not been proven in court.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ruled that he could not order Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to sign an extradition warrant or prevent the Cameron County sheriff from releasing Castro. Abbott had not immediately approved Minnesota’s request.
Minnesota officials have expressed concern that Castro could leave the United States before the extradition dispute is resolved. Extraditing a defendant from another country would require federal diplomatic and legal action.
ICE has suspended Castro without pay, according to reports published after his release. The dispute is expected to remain under legal review as Minnesota authorities continue seeking his return.
