Federal immigration officer Christian Castro is set to appear before a Hennepin County judge on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility downtown. The 52‑year‑old agent, a native of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, faces four counts of second‑degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime for an incident that occurred on Jan. 14 in north Minneapolis.
What happened on Jan. 14?
According to the criminal complaint, Castro and a partner were attempting to apprehend Alfredo Aljorna, a Venezuelan citizen, when a brief scuffle erupted in front of Aljorna’s home. Aljorna’s roommate, Julio Sosa‑Celis, ran outside to assist, and both men fled inside. Castro allegedly drew his firearm, firing a shot that passed through the front door, wounding Sosa‑Celis in the leg and lodging in the closet of a child’s bedroom.
Allegations of false statements
The complaint further alleges that Castro lied to investigators, claiming three men beat him with a broom and a snow shovel and that he was lying on his back when he fired to protect himself. A federal indictment filed on Sept. 4 adds six counts of making false statements, one for each alleged lie. The indictment also notes that Castro told investigators the scuffle lasted more than three minutes, whereas traffic‑camera footage captured an encounter lasting about 11 seconds.
Legal proceedings and custody
Castro was arrested in May by the Texas Rangers and held in a Texas jail on the Hennepin County charges. Texas Governor Greg Abbott declined to extradite him to Minnesota, and under Texas law Castro was released after 90 days without a court hearing. He was re‑arrested Wednesday by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and remains in custody with bail set at $200,000. His attorney, Daniel Gerdts, has not responded to requests for comment.
Federal case pending
In addition to the state charges, Castro is the first federal immigration officer to face federal charges for conduct during Operation Metro Surge. He is scheduled to appear at 8 a.m. Friday at the federal courthouse in St. Paul for the federal case.
Community impact
The incident has raised concerns among north Minneapolis residents about the conduct of immigration enforcement officers operating in their neighborhoods. Local leaders have called for transparency and accountability, emphasizing the need to protect the safety of families while upholding the rule of law.
As the case moves forward, both state and federal authorities will be watching closely to determine whether the charges result in convictions and what implications they may have for future immigration operations in the Twin Cities.
Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.
