ICE agent charged in Minneapolis shooting released from Texas jail, suspended without pay
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent charged in a Minneapolis shooting during Operation Metro Surge has been released from a Texas jail early Thursday morning, the Associated Press reports.
The release follows a federal judge's Wednesday denial of Minnesota's request for a temporary restraining order to halt Christian Castro's release.
The shooting occurred the night of Jan. 14, when a Venezuelan migrant was shot in the leg by officer Castro, and two others were arrested. Castro was charged in Minnesota with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime. Castro accused the man of assaulting him with a broomstick and shovel before the shooting, but investigators say footage from a nearby camera helped prove that was a lie.
On Thursday evening, WCCO received a statement from a senior Homeland Security official, saying Castro has been suspended without pay as the investigation continues.
"Lying under oath is a serious federal offense. The U.S. Attorney's Office is actively investigating these statements. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the officers may face disciplinary action, including termination of employment, as well as potential criminal prosecution," the statement said. "The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct. Violations of this sacred sworn oath will not be tolerated."
Castro was arrested in Texas on May 29, and has been held at the Cameron County Jail ever since, despite multiple extradition requests by Minnesota officials. The Cameron County sheriff said he would release Castro on Thursday morning.
In a 13-page decision, U.S. District Court Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. denied Minnesota's request, finding that the dispute "does not present an issue ripe for adjudication." The state had argued that Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott violated the Extradition Act by refusing to sign Castro's rendition warrant. But Rodriguez noted that Abbott has done neither.
"The record reflects only that Governor Abbott has neither agreed nor refused to sign the rendition warrant as to Castro," he wrote. "Instead, Governor Abbott has requested that the Texas Secretary of State 'investigate [Minnesota's] demand and report to [the Governor] concerning Mr. Castro's situation and circumstances and whether he ought to be surrendered.'"
Minnesota officials warned that Castro could skip the country, pointing to jailhouse calls in which he reportedly discussed marrying a woman in Mexico and buying a house there once released, according to the lawsuit. Rodriguez acknowledged the risk but said "the threat of injury by itself" isn't enough to make the case ready for a court to decide.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said that Castro "will not escape justice in Minnesota" regardless of the judge's ruling.
"I can only guess at some point here the judge will order Abbott to sign the extradition paperwork. The question is when will that be and also where will Christian Castro be?" said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty.
Abbott's press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, welcomed the ruling and said it was the governor's duty to carefully consider the merits of extradition requests.
"Laws require that Mr. Castro be released while the State completes its investigation into his fugitive status. But he must understand that the eyes of law enforcement will remain fixed on him," said Machaleris. "If at any time the Governor determines that he is a fugitive, a Governor's warrant will be executed immediately, and law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels will track him down and arrest him."
Abbott posted about Castro's release on the social media platform, X, saying "You guys are such bad lawyers. You showed up unprepared, uninformed & unpersuasive. You don't know the law & it showed."
