ICE Agent Charged with Falsifying Account of Venezuelan Migrant Shooting

A federal indictment now charges ICE agent Christian Castro with six counts, including lying about a January 14 shooting that struck a Venezuelan migrant in the leg. The Department of Homeland Security originally claimed the agent fired in self‑defense after being attacked by three migrants wielding a shovel and a broom handle, but Minnesota investigators allege Castro fired through a closed front door knowing people were inside.

The shooting occurred during a protest that part of the state's Operation Metro Surge sent federal immigration officers into the area. The officer claimed the gun burst from his pocket after an “attack,” yet surveillance footage shows the agent discharging his weapon while the door was closed.

In addition to the federal indictment, Castro faces separate state charges of assault and false reporting. His actions prompted the DHS to place the agent on administrative leave and led to a review of other ICE personnel’s statements during the incident.

After being arrested in Texas in May, Castro was held in custody for three months. Minnesota prosecutors sought his extradition, but Texas Governor Greg Abbott declined to approve the request, citing doubts that Castro qualified as a fugitive. The agent has since been released from custody in Texas.

State Attorney Keith Ellison welcomed the federal charges, but said the indictment does not fully reflect the gravity of the violent crimes committed. He emphasized that Minnesota’s prosecution will proceed independently of the federal case.

The incident is part of wider tensions surrounding Operation Metro Surge, which increased ICE presence in the Midwest and prompted protests that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens and raised questions about use of force during immigration enforcement actions.

For readers seeking broader context, a separate article explains the scope of ICE’s authority and the legal standards governing the use of force by its agents.