BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent charged in Minnesota with firing his weapon through a house door and injuring a man could be released from a South Texas jail Thursday under state law after 90 days in custody unless a federal judge intervenes, court filings show.
Extradition fight moves to federal court in Brownsville
Christian Castro, an ICE agent, is charged in Minnesota with assault and falsely reporting a crime in the Jan. 14 shooting that wounded 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, authorities said. Minnesota prosecutors allege Castro fired through the front door of a Minneapolis home, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg, and that the bullet lodged in a child’s bedroom wall.
Minnesota officials say Castro then falsely told authorities that Sosa-Celis and another man attacked an ICE officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel. Minnesota prosecutors have sought extradition since Castro’s arrest, but he remains in custody in Brownsville, a city on the Texas-Mexico border.
Texas law requires that a detainee who has been held for 90 days without transfer or resolution be released from county custody. That 90-day period is set to expire Thursday, prompting the Minnesota governor and attorney general to file suit in federal court seeking an order that would compel Texas to return Castro to Minnesota and prevent the Cameron County sheriff from releasing him.
Judge signals reluctance to bar release
The dispute was heard Tuesday in Brownsville before U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. Attorneys from Minnesota’s Attorney General’s Office argued at the hearing that releasing Castro would make it difficult to secure his presence in Minnesota to face charges and would increase the risk he might flee.
During the hearing, Rodriguez indicated he was inclined not to restrain the Cameron County sheriff from releasing Castro. The judge said he would issue a written response to the temporary restraining order on Wednesday.
"He said he was inclined not to keep the sheriff from releasing Castro,"
The attorneys representing the Texas governor’s office were present and argued their positions during the proceedings.
Allegations and consequences
Prosecutors in Minnesota have accused Castro of using deadly force without lawful justification, then falsifying reports to cover the incident. The alleged false statements include asserting that the suspects attacked an ICE officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel — claims Minnesota prosecutors dispute in their filings.
The case places a federal immigration agent at the center of a criminal prosecution in another state while he is detained in Texas, creating a high-profile interstate legal confrontation involving state executives and federal courts.
- Defendant: Christian Castro, ICE agent
- Victim: Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, 24, wounded Jan. 14
- Charges in Minnesota: Assault and falsely reporting a crime
- Current custody: Cameron County, Brownsville, Texas
- Critical date: 90-day release deadline — Thursday
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan. 14 | Alleged shooting in Minneapolis that wounded Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis |
| Aug. (current year) | Castro detained in Brownsville; Minnesota files for extradition and federal suit |
| Thursday (90-day limit) | Mandatory release under Texas law unless court order prevents it |
What happens next
Judge Rodriguez said he would issue a written response to the temporary restraining order filed by Minnesota officials. If he declines to prevent the sheriff from releasing Castro and no other legal restraint is in place, the Cameron County sheriff would be legally obligated under state law to release him after the 90-day detention limit expires.
Minnesota authorities argue they need to secure Castro’s presence to ensure he faces the charges. The federal court proceedings in Brownsville will determine whether state officials can enforce the extradition request or whether Texas law on detention limits requires Castro’s release absent an alternative legal hold.
The case underscores tensions that can arise when criminal matters cross state lines and involve federal law enforcement officers. For residents in Brownsville and across Texas, the dispute also highlights how state statutes on detention interact with interstate law enforcement and the federal judiciary.
Federal and state filings in the case remain the primary public records detailing the allegations and the procedural steps taken by Minnesota and Texas officials. Officials from ICE did not provide a statement in the filings made public at the federal hearing.
