The Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, D.C., decided not to pursue civil rights charges against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Christian Castro, who is accused of shooting Venezuelan immigrant Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis in January. The decision came despite strong objections from Matthew Evans, the assistant U.S. attorney handling the case, who indicated in an email that he had fought against the decision but was unsuccessful. Castro, 52, allegedly shot Sosa-Celis in the leg during Operation Metro Surge, a Trump administration initiative aimed at increasing immigration enforcement. The DOJ's decision to charge Castro only with making false statements is expected to result in a less severe penalty if he is convicted.
Evans stated in his email that the false statement charges could be filed soon and would likely be under seal. A DOJ official noted that civil rights charges require consultation with the civil rights division and that charging decisions are collaborative and based on the facts of the case. Castro is also facing multiple state felony charges in Minnesota, including assault with a dangerous weapon. After being held for 90 days while extradition issues were resolved, he was released last week.
The incident occurred on January 14 when Castro and another ICE agent pursued Alfredo Aljorna after a traffic stop. Aljorna ran into a home he shared with Sosa-Celis, and Castro allegedly fired through the door, hitting Sosa-Celis in the leg. Following the shooting, ICE agents used tear gas to enter the home and detain the individuals inside. Initially, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed that Castro had acted in self-defense, but later dropped charges against Sosa-Celis and Aljorna after video evidence contradicted the agents' accounts. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty expressed concerns about Castro potentially fleeing to Mexico following his release.