Minnesota AG Criticizes Texas Governor Over ICE Extradition Case

<p>Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has accused Texas Governor Greg Abbott of creating a "sanctuary state for violent criminals" following the release of Christian Castro, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent charged in connection with a January shooting in Minneapolis. Castro was released from a Texas jail after a federal judge denied Minnesota’s emergency request to keep him in custody and compel Abbott to sign the extradition warrant. Texas law generally limits pre-extradition detention to 90 days, and Abbott has not yet made a decision regarding Minnesota’s extradition request.</p><p>Ellison stated, "This is not politics — this is not a game. If a governor can delay extraditions and cherry-pick cases according to their political tastes, then no state will be able to hold fugitive criminals accountable." In a response on social media, Abbott criticized Ellison's comments, stating, "You guys are such bad lawyers. You showed up unprepared, uninformed & unpersuasive. You don't know the law & it showed." Abbott further remarked that Minnesota is a "sanctuary state" for not enforcing immigration laws.</p><p>Christian Castro faces four felony counts of second-degree assault and one misdemeanor count of falsely reporting a crime. He is accused of firing through the front door of an occupied home during an ICE operation, injuring Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. Castro claims he acted in self-defense.</p><p>The charges against Castro were filed by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s office after an investigation by Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The incident was initially characterized by the Trump administration as an attack on an ICE officer, but ICE later placed Castro and another agent on administrative leave after allegations of untruthful statements regarding the incident.</p><p>Minnesota prosecutors contend that surveillance video and other evidence contradict Castro’s account of the events. Abbott's office has stated that Texas is reviewing whether Castro qualifies as a fugitive subject to extradition, noting that he returned to Texas on federal orders.</p><p>Fox News Digital reached out to Abbott’s office for clarification on the extradition request but did not receive a response before publication.</p>