US News
ICE officer charged in Minneapolis shooting released from Texas jail after judge denies extradition order
Federal Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ruled that Minnesota's request to block Christian Castro's release was not ripe for adjudication while Texas conducts an internal review.
The short version
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Christian Castro was released from a Texas jail after completing 90 days of detention without extradition.
- Castro faces assault and false reporting charges in Minnesota for allegedly shooting a man in the leg on Jan. 14 and lying about being attacked.
- A federal judge denied Minnesota's request to block Castro's release, ruling that the dispute over Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's extradition decision is not yet ripe for court intervention.
- Minnesota officials expressed concern that Castro may flee to Mexico, while Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stated his office will continue litigating the case.
Key facts
- Christian Castro was released from the Cameron County Jail in Brownsville, Texas, after completing 90 days of detention under Texas law.[Associated Press · CBS News]
- Castro faces criminal charges in Minnesota, including second-degree assault and falsely reporting a crime, in connection with the Jan. 14 shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.[Associated Press · CBS News]
- Minnesota prosecutors allege Castro shot Sosa-Celis through the front door of a Minneapolis home and falsely claimed he was attacked with a broom handle and shovel, a claim investigators say was contradicted by camera footage.[Associated Press · CBS News]
- U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. denied Minnesota's request for a temporary restraining order, stating the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction because Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had not yet formally approved or denied the extradition request.[Associated Press · CBS News]
- Texas attorneys stated Gov. Abbott ordered an internal state investigation into whether Castro legally qualifies as a fugitive under extradition rules.[Associated Press · CBS News]
- Castro was arrested in Texas on May 29 after a Minnesota judge issued a nationwide arrest warrant in May.[Associated Press · CBS News]
What remains uncertain
- Whether Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will ultimately sign the rendition warrant to extradite Castro to Minnesota following the state's internal review.[Associated Press · CBS News]
- Whether Castro will remain in the United States or attempt to travel to Mexico, as feared by Minnesota officials based on recorded jail phone calls.[Associated Press · CBS News]