In an extraordinary twist reflecting growing tensions between local and federal authorities, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has filed charges against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Christian Castro. Castro faces four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime related to an incident in north Minneapolis on January 14, 2026. The case has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of federal agents in local jurisdictional issues.
The charges stem from events where Castro allegedly pursued and shot Julio Sosa-Celis, injuring him in a manner that endangered bystanders, including children in a nearby home. The shooting occurred when Sosa-Celis and Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna reportedly retreated into a house. Moriarty emphasized in a recent news conference that Castro was not under any immediate threat when he discharged his firearm. This statement highlights the complexity of prosecuting federal officers on state criminal charges, something Minnesota law does not shield them from. For details, visit the complete report.
Initially, ICE agents claimed that Sosa-Celis and Aljorna had attacked one of their officers. However, Moriarty refuted these accusations as false, and a federal judge subsequently dismissed the charges against the two men based on new evidence contrary to the initial allegations. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is scrutinizing whether Castro and another ICE agent committed perjury in their claims about this altercation.
This incident is part of a series of controversial actions under Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale deployment of ICE personnel to Minnesota, which also witnessed the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, described by the DHS as self-defense cases. The legal confrontation deepens as Minnesota has sued the DHS for not releasing evidence pertinent to these shootings. Moriarty noted in the conference that the federal government has yet to comply with this request, reflecting broader disputes over accountability and transparency.
Furthermore, this is not the first legal challenge against ICE officers during the Metro Surge. Hennepin County Attorney’s Office had earlier charged Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. with assault after he allegedly threatened motorists with a firearm, echoing the concerns raised by Castro’s incident.
Prosecutors in Hennepin County continue their investigations into the fatalities of Good and Pretti. Moriarty’s office has also disseminated a video aimed at elucidating the legal framework allowing state-level prosecution of federal agents, a move designed to inform public understanding of these complex legal processes.
This evolving situation underscores critical tensions and raises significant questions about the balance of power and accountability between state and federal law enforcement agencies, with potential implications reaching beyond Minnesota.