Christian Castro, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer charged with assault and falsely reporting a crime in a January 14 Minneapolis shooting, was released from a Texas jail on Thursday, August 27, 2026, after a federal judge declined to block his release or force his return to Minnesota, according to court documents and news reports from the Associated Press.
Extradition Stalled in Federal Court
Castro was released at daybreak from the Carrizalez-Rucker Cameron County Detention Center in Brownsville, Texas, where he had been held since his May 29 arrest by the Texas Rangers. According to the Associated Press, Castro motioned toward reporters and camera operators before getting into an SUV that drove away.
The release followed a Wednesday ruling by U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., who denied a request from Minnesota officials for a temporary restraining order. Judge Rodriguez wrote in a 13-page ruling that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction because the case was not ripe for adjudication. Minnesota attorneys argued that Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott violated the Extradition Act by refusing to sign a rendition warrant, but the judge noted that Abbott had neither agreed nor refused to sign, instead asking the Texas Secretary of State to investigate Castro’s fugitive status.
Under Texas law, absent an executed extradition warrant, authorities were required to release Castro after 90 days of detention, which expired on Thursday.
Andrew Mahaleris, a press secretary for Governor Abbott, told the Associated Press that the governor welcomed the ruling and defended the timeline. “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,” Mahaleris said, adding that a governor’s warrant would be executed immediately if Abbott determines Castro is a fugitive.
Minneapolis Shooting Charges and Suspension
The criminal case stems from a January 14 incident during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, where 24-year-old Julio César Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan migrant, was shot in the leg. According to Hennepin County prosecutors, Castro fired a gun through the front door of a Minneapolis home and subsequently accused Sosa-Celis and another man of attacking an ICE officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel.
Investigators stated that footage from a nearby surveillance camera disproved Castro’s account, leading a Minnesota judge to issue a nationwide arrest warrant in May. Hennepin County charged Castro with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime.
On Thursday evening, WCCO received a statement from a senior Homeland Security official confirming that Castro has been suspended without pay. “Lying under oath is a serious federal offense. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is actively investigating these statements,” the statement read. “Upon conclusion of the investigation, the officers may face disciplinary action, including termination of employment, as well as potential criminal prosecution.”
Flight Risk Concerns and Legal Reactions
Minnesota officials expressed concern that Castro would flee the country, pointing to jailhouse phone calls in which he allegedly discussed marrying a woman in Mexico and purchasing a home there upon his release, according to court filings. While Judge Rodriguez acknowledged the potential threat of flight, he stated that the risk alone did not make the dispute ripe for federal intervention.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stated that his office would continue litigation to ensure accountability. “Castro will not escape justice in Minnesota,” Ellison said in a statement.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty also criticized the delay, telling reporters, “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?”