14 January 2026
The DOJ press release says the indictment alleges Christian Jeremiah Castro and his partner were working as ICE deportation officers when they attempted to stop a vehicle driven by a then-26-year-old Venezuelan citizen in Minneapolis.
DOJ press release
14 January 2026
The DOJ press release says the indictment alleges Castro pursued the vehicle driver by vehicle and on foot and attempted to apprehend him in the front yard of a north Minneapolis duplex.
DOJ press release
14 January 2026
The DOJ press release says the indictment alleges a then-24-year-old Venezuelan resident of the duplex, identified by AP as Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, attempted to assist the vehicle driver during an approximately 11-second physical interaction.
DOJ press release; AP
14 January 2026
The DOJ press release says the indictment alleges Castro stood up, drew his service weapon and fired a single shot through the front door as the two men entered the duplex, and that Sosa-Celis was struck in the leg.
DOJ press release; AP
14 January 2026
The DOJ press release says the indictment alleges multiple people, including minor children, were inside the duplex when the shot was fired.
DOJ press release
14 January 2026
The DOJ press release says Castro was interviewed by an FBI special agent later that night and described being attacked with a broom and a snow shovel before firing one round.
DOJ press release
13 February 2026
AP reported that U.S. District Judge Paul A. Magnuson dismissed felony assault charges against Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis after federal prosecutors cited newly discovered evidence that was materially inconsistent with earlier allegations.
AP
13 February 2026
AP reported that ICE Director Todd Lyons said ICE opened a joint probe with the Justice Department after video evidence indicated sworn testimony by two officers appeared to include untruthful statements; AP reported the officers were not named at that time and were on administrative leave.
AP
18 May 2026
AP reported that Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Minnesota charges against Christian Castro: four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime, with a warrant issued for his arrest; these charges are allegations.
AP citing Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty
29 May 2026
AP reported that authorities, including Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, arrested Castro in Cameron County, Texas, after a Minnesota judge issued a nationwide warrant.
AP
26 August 2026
AP reported that U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. refused to order Texas to extradite Castro to Minnesota or to order Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to sign an extradition warrant.
AP
27 August 2026
AP reported that Castro was released from a Texas jail after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did not immediately sign Minnesota’s extradition warrant and a federal judge declined to block the release.
AP
2 September 2026
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota announced that a federal grand jury indicted Christian Jeremiah Castro, 52, of Texas, on six counts of making materially false statements to the FBI during the 14 January 2026 interview; an indictment is an allegation and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
DOJ press release
4 September 2026
AP reported that Castro appeared in federal court in McAllen, Texas, after turning himself in the prior evening; the judge ordered him released on a $75,000 unsecured bond with a GPS ankle monitor.
AP
4 September 2026
AP reported that defense attorneys David A. Lindenmuth and Rolando Cantu said Castro intends to plead not guilty, and AP corrected its story to state that court records did not indicate Castro entered a not-guilty plea that Friday.
AP
18 September 2026
AP reported that Castro was ordered to next appear in federal court in Minnesota on this date.
AP