ICE Agent Arrested After Fabricating Account of Minneapolis Shooting

The arrest stems from a January 14 confrontation at the home of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, whom agents were pursuing alongside his roommate. Castro originally asserted that he fired his weapon because the men attacked him with a broom and a shovel. These claims were initially supported by Department of Homeland Security leadership, including then-Secretary Kristi Noem. However, investigators eventually dropped charges against the victims after video evidence and X-ray analysis proved the self-defense narrative was fabricated.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has charged Castro with four counts of felony assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime. The apprehension was carried out by Texas Rangers and the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison noted that the case reinforces the principle that federal agents are not above the law.

This marks the second time during the controversial "Operation Metro Surge" that a federal agent has faced criminal charges in the region. Last month, Gregory Morgan Jr. was charged with felony assault after allegedly brandishing a gun at local residents during a traffic stop. While these cases proceed, other fatal incidents involving federal agents in Minneapolis remain under investigation by state authorities, who have faced significant resistance from the federal government regarding cooperation.