ICE agent charged with lying about shooting Venezuelan man during crackdown

September 4, 2026

A federal ICE agent, Christian Castro, has been indicted on six counts related to lying about shooting a Venezuelan migrant in Minnesota during a January immigration enforcement operation. While the Department of Homeland Security initially claimed Castro acted in self-defense against three migrants armed with a shovel and broom handle, Minnesota investigators allege he fired through a closed door, hitting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg. The charges against the migrants were dropped after surveillance footage contradicted the agents' account, marking an unusual case of the current justice department prosecuting a federal agent for on-the-job misconduct.

Who is affected

Christian Castro (ICE agent charged with multiple crimes)
Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis (Venezuelan migrant shot in the leg)
Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna (Venezuelan migrant originally charged, charges later dismissed)
A child whose room wall was struck by the bullet
People inside the home who were fired upon
Thousands of federal immigration officers deployed during Operation Metro Surge
Two US citizens who died during confrontations with agents during the operation

What action is being taken

Christian Castro is being prosecuted with federal charges (six-count indictment)
Minnesota is pursuing separate state charges against Castro for assault and false reporting
Keith Ellison's office is continuing the state case against Castro regardless of federal prosecution
Castro remains not yet in custody (following his release from Texas detention last week)

Why it matters

This case is significant because it represents a rare instance of the current justice department charging a federal agent with breaking the law while on duty. It highlights accountability concerns within immigration enforcement operations, particularly during large-scale deployments like Operation Metro Surge that resulted in civilian deaths. The contradictory accounts between official statements and surveillance evidence, combined with Texas Governor Abbott's refusal to extradite Castro, underscores tensions between federal immigration enforcement, state authority, and the pursuit of justice for migrants who may be victims of excessive force.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC