ICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH SHOOTING RELEASED FROM TEXAS JAIL

Christian Castro, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer charged with shooting a man in Minneapolis, was released from a county jail in Brownsville, Texas on Thursday morning after a federal judge declined to order his return to Minnesota. Castro had been detained in the Carrizales-Rucker Cameron County Detention Centre since his arrest on 29 May. A US district judge ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to prevent Castro's release or compel his extradition, as the matter remained under internal review by Texas authorities.

Castro is charged in Minnesota with assault and falsely reporting a crime in connection with the 14 January shooting of 24-year-old Julio César Sosa-Celis during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Prosecutors allege Castro fired a gun through the front door of a home, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg, and then falsely accused Sosa-Celis and another man of attacking an ICE officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel. Under Texas law, a person subject to an extradition request must be either transferred or released if held for more than 90 days; Castro's detention reached that limit on Thursday. Minnesota's attorney general, Keith Ellison, had sought a temporary restraining order the previous week to block Castro's release or compel his return, but Texas authorities cited an ongoing internal investigation into whether Castro met the legal definition of "fugitive" under extradition law. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has not denied the extradition request and is awaiting the outcome of the state investigation.

Minnesota officials expressed concern that Castro could flee to Mexico, which shares a border with Brownsville. Upon his release, Castro briefly gestured to camera operators and reporters before departing in an SUV. The case remains unresolved as to whether Castro will ultimately be returned to Minnesota to face trial.