Minnesota ICE Agent Charged in Venezuelan Immigrant Shooting During Trump Immigration Crackdown

Minnesota prosecutors have charged a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in connection with the January shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis during President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement operations.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Monday that ICE agent Christian Castro, 53, faces four felony counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one misdemeanor charge for allegedly filing a false police report. The charges stem from the shooting of Venezuelan immigrant Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who was wounded in the leg during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis.

The case has drawn national attention as it marks the second time Minneapolis officials have filed charges against a federal agent tied to Trump-era immigration raids in the city. The broader enforcement crackdown also resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens during separate encounters involving federal officers.

ICE officials strongly criticized the criminal charges against Castro, calling them “unlawful” and describing the prosecution as politically motivated. However, the agency also acknowledged that providing false statements under oath could lead to serious federal consequences. According to ICE representatives, federal investigators are actively reviewing statements made by officers involved in the incident.

Questions surrounding the accuracy of officers’ accounts first emerged in February, when a senior ICE official disclosed that two federal agents may have misrepresented key details leading up to the shooting. Shortly afterward, federal prosecutors dropped assault charges against two men accused of attacking ICE officers during the operation, citing evidence that was “materially inconsistent” with the original allegations.

The investigation continues as scrutiny intensifies over federal immigration enforcement tactics, officer conduct, and accountability during immigration raids conducted under Trump’s border security policies. If misconduct is confirmed, the officers involved could face termination and additional criminal prosecution.