A federal ICE officer in Minnesota has been charged after allegedly shooting a Venezuelan migrant and providing false statements about the incident, which occurred during an anti-ICE protest in January 2026.
Shooting Incident Details
Christian Castro, 52, is charged with four counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and falsely reporting a crime. The shooting happened on January 14 in Minneapolis, when Castro fired at 23-year-old Julio Sosa-Celis, hitting him in the leg. Two other Venezuelan migrants were initially taken into custody after DHS claimed they attacked ICE agents, but all charges against them were later dropped.
Video evidence and medical records contradicted Castro’s version of events. While he claimed he was attacked with a shovel and broom and fired in self-defense, medical exams revealed only a minor abrasion on his hand. Surveillance footage also showed that no weapons were used against him.
Investigation Findings
The BCA investigation found that Castro had gotten off the ground before firing the shot, which went through a door, struck Sosa-Celis’s thigh, and continued into an apartment, passing near a child’s room. Authorities concluded the gunfire was not justified.
Castro and the other ICE agents involved were placed on administrative leave. DHS stated that lying under oath is a serious federal offense and that the officers may face criminal prosecution or termination after the investigation concludes.
Background on Migrants Involved
Sosa-Celis entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and had previous minor arrests. Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez-Ledezma, also Venezuelan migrants, were present but had no role in the shooting. Their presence coincided with a high-tension anti-ICE protest following the death of Renee Good, who had been killed a week earlier in a separate incident involving an ICE agent.
Community and Legal Response
Minnesota prosecutors issued a nationwide arrest warrant for Castro. The incident has raised questions about the conduct of federal agents during enforcement operations and the use of force against migrants. Officials emphasised that ICE officers are held to high standards of professionalism and integrity.
The case remains under investigation, with Castro’s legal proceedings ongoing.
