Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott on August 18, 2026, seeking the extradition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Christian Castro. Castro is accused of assaulting a man during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis earlier this year. He was charged by Minneapolis prosecutors with falsely reporting a crime related to the nonfatal shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis during Operation Metro Surge.
Ellison's lawsuit aims to prevent Texas authorities from releasing Castro and to compel Abbott to sign the extradition warrant, allowing Minnesota law enforcement to take custody of Castro. Ellison stated that Castro could be released next week under Texas law after being detained for 90 days.
Castro allegedly shot Sosa-Celis in the thigh while pursuing another individual, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, both of whom were reportedly in the country illegally. Following the incident, charges against Sosa-Celis and Aljorna for assaulting an ICE officer were dropped after investigations suggested ICE agents may have misreported details.
In May, Castro was arrested in Texas and charged with four counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime. Ellison emphasized the need for Castro to face justice in Minnesota, criticizing Abbott for not granting the extradition request sooner.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty remarked that the lawsuit should not have been necessary, noting that Texas has cooperated with extradition requests in the past. Ellison indicated that communication with Texas officials has been ongoing, but they have not honored the extradition request for Castro.