An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer facing criminal charges in Minnesota has been released from a Texas jail after a federal judge declined to intervene in an ongoing extradition dispute between the two states.
Christian Castro was freed from custody in Brownsville, Texas, after spending 90 days in detention. Minnesota authorities are seeking to bring him back to the state to face charges connected to a shooting during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis earlier this year.
The case has intensified a legal and political dispute involving Minnesota officials and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
ICE Officer Released After 90-Day Detention Period
Castro was released after Texas reached the legal limit for holding an individual in custody while an extradition matter remains unresolved.
Minnesota had asked a federal court to prevent his release and compel Texas authorities to move forward with the extradition process. However, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. declined to issue such an order.
The judge ruled that the dispute was not yet ready for federal court intervention because Abbott had not formally rejected Minnesota’s extradition request. Texas officials have maintained that the matter remains under review.
Castro’s whereabouts after leaving the detention facility were not immediately clear.
Minnesota Seeks Extradition Over Minneapolis Shooting Charges
The ICE officer faces multiple criminal charges in Minnesota, including four counts of second-degree assault involving a dangerous weapon and a charge of falsely reporting a crime.
The allegations stem from a January incident in Minneapolis during which Castro allegedly fired through a closed door and wounded Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan man, in the leg.
Minnesota authorities have argued that Castro should be returned to the state to face the charges. Officials also raised concerns that he could leave the country if released from custody.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has questioned whether Castro qualifies as a fugitive for extradition purposes, noting that the officer had been reassigned to Texas by federal authorities.
Legal and Political Battle Continues
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has strongly criticized Texas’ handling of the extradition request and has continued to push for Castro to face the charges in Minnesota.
Abbott’s office, meanwhile, has defended the governor’s authority to review the extradition request and determine how the case should proceed.
The dispute has highlighted growing tensions between Minnesota and Texas over immigration enforcement and criminal accountability. Although Castro has now been released from jail, the extradition case and the criminal charges against him remain unresolved.
