Christian Castro, a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, was released from a Texas jail on Thursday, August 27, 2026, following a federal judge's refusal to order his return to Minnesota. Castro faces charges related to the nonfatal shooting of 24-year-old Julio César Sosa-Celis during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis on January 14, 2026.

Castro had been detained in a county jail in Cameron County, Texas, since May 29, after a Minnesota judge issued a nationwide warrant for his arrest. Under Texas law, and without an approved extradition, he was required to be released after 90 days of detention.

US District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr stated he could not prevent the county sheriff from releasing Castro or compel Texas Governor Greg Abbott to sign an extradition warrant. The court concluded it lacked subject matter jurisdiction, noting that Minnesota must prove a violation has already occurred rather than speculate on future actions by Governor Abbott.

Governor Abbott has withheld response to the extradition request, citing ongoing investigations into alleged fraud in Minnesota’s social service programs—an issue former President Donald Trump referenced to justify the immigration crackdown there. Abbott's press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, welcomed the ruling, emphasizing the governor's duty to carefully consider extradition requests.

Prosecutors allege that Castro wrongfully accused Sosa-Celis and another man of assaulting an ICE officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel during the raid. Castro was accused of firing through the front door of Sosa-Celis's home, hitting him in the leg.

Upon release, Castro briefly acknowledged media before leaving in an SUV from the detention center in Brownsville, Texas, near the US-Mexico border.

Sources