RismadarVoice Reporters
September 3, 2026
A United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has been federally charged with allegedly making false statements to investigators over the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
The officer, Christian Castro, is accused of providing inaccurate information about the events that led to the January shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who was shot in the leg during the confrontation. Federal prosecutors charged Castro with making false statements to investigators, according to officials familiar with the case.
The federal charges follow earlier state-level charges filed by Minnesota prosecutors, who accused Castro of assault and falsely reporting a crime in connection with the incident.
Authorities had initially alleged that Sosa-Celis and another man attacked federal officers during the encounter. However, prosecutors later dropped charges against the two men after reviewing video evidence that raised questions about the officers’ accounts of what happened.
The case has prompted further investigations into the actions and statements of federal officers involved in the incident. Officials said the Justice Department is continuing to review whether additional charges, including possible civil rights violations, should be pursued.
Castro’s case comes amid wider controversy surrounding immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, where federal agents were deployed as part of a broader immigration crackdown.
ICE officials have previously stated that providing false information during investigations is a serious offence and that officers found to have violated the law could face disciplinary action or criminal prosecution.
The federal case against Castro remains ongoing as prosecutors continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the statements made by officers involved.
