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ICE Agent Federally Charged with Lying in Shooting of Venezuelan Immigrant

ICE Agent Federally Charged with Lying in Shooting of Venezuelan Immigrant

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, Christian Castro, has been federally charged with making false statements regarding the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant. These federal charges come after local prosecutors in Minnesota had already charged Castro with second-degree assault and making a false report earlier this year. The incident involved Castro shooting 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg. Federal prosecutors initially charged Sosa-Celis and another man with assaulting an ICE officer, but these charges were dropped after surveillance footage and other evidence contradicted Castro’s account. The shooting occurred after ICE officers attempted to pull over a truck belonging to an undocumented immigrant, Joffre Barrera. Sosa-Celis’ cousin, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, was driving the truck and fled from officers. Sosa-Celis stated that after he and Aljorna were inside his apartment, a shot was fired, and he realized he had been shot in the leg. Castro and a second agent were placed...

ICE Agent Christian Castro Faces Federal Charges for Allegedly Lying About Minneapolis Shooting

ICE Agent Christian Castro Faces Federal Charges for Allegedly Lying About Minneapolis Shooting

Christian Castro, a 52-year-old Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, has been charged by the Justice Department with allegedly making false statements to investigators regarding a shooting incident in Minneapolis. The federal charges stem from an event on January 14, where Castro fired shots at the front door of a Minneapolis home, injuring Venezuelan immigrant Julio Sosa-Celis in the leg. Castro initially claimed that Sosa-Celis and another individual attacked him, leading to Sosa-Celis being charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota. However, video evidence later surfaced, contradicting Castro's account, and the case against Sosa-Celis was subsequently dropped. Castro had previously faced state charges in Hennepin County, Minnesota, for second-degree assault and falsely reporting a crime, leading to an extradition dispute between Minnesota and Texas, where he was arrested. He was released from jail last month due to a legal detention limit amidst the dispute. Sources indicate that Ca...

AP Source: ICE officer charged with lying to investigators in the shooting of Venezuelan man

AP Source: ICE officer charged with lying to investigators in the shooting of Venezuelan man

Federal prosecutors have charged a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer with lying to investigators about the events leading up to the shooting of a Venezuelan man during the Minneapolis immigration crackdown earlier this year

Federal Grand Jury Indicts ICE Officer for Lying to Investigators in Immigrant Shooting

Federal Grand Jury Indicts ICE Officer for Lying to Investigators in Immigrant Shooting

A federal grand jury has indicted Christian Castro, an ICE officer, on charges of making false statements to the FBI regarding the January 14 shooting of Venezuelan immigrant Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis. The shooting resulted in Sosa-Celis sustaining a gunshot wound to his leg during immigration enforcement operations. This federal indictment follows state charges in Minnesota against Castro for assault and false reporting of a crime related to the same incident. Federal prosecutors had previously dropped charges against Sosa-Celis and another man, who were initially accused of assaulting an immigration officer, after video evidence suggested that ICE officers may have provided inaccurate accounts of the encounter. A separate investigation into whether Castro should face a more serious civil rights charge in the shooting is reportedly ongoing. The federal charges come a week after Castro's release from jail in Texas, despite an extradition warrant from Minnesota prosecutors.

The Latest: ICE officer charged with lying about shooting of Venezuelan man, AP source says

The Latest: ICE officer charged with lying about shooting of Venezuelan man, AP source says

According to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity, federal prosecutors have charged a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer with lying to investigators about the events leading up to the nonfatal shooting of a Venezuelan man during the Minneapolis immigration crackdown earlier this year

Minnesota Supreme Court Implements Statewide Ban on Firearms in Court Facilities

Minnesota Supreme Court Implements Statewide Ban on Firearms in Court Facilities

The Minnesota Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, has enacted a statewide ban on firearms and other weapons in all court-occupied areas across Minnesota. This new policy, effective September 1, 2026, extends to county government buildings and other facilities utilized by the state's district courts, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court for official business. The order specifically applies to individuals who possess valid permits to carry firearms, meaning such permits no longer authorize weapon possession within these designated court areas. Limited exceptions are made for licensed peace officers and federally authorized law enforcement officers acting in their official capacities, as well as for weapons introduced as evidence during trials, provided advance notice and safety protocols are followed. This initiative expands upon existing restrictions that have been in place since 2003 at the Minnesota Judicial Center and the Supreme Court courtroom within the State Capitol. Chief judges also r...

Congressman Cohen Questions ICE Accountability and Criticizes Immigration Policy in Memphis

Congressman Cohen Questions ICE Accountability and Criticizes Immigration Policy in Memphis

Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses during a Republican-led Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on sanctuary jurisdictions. He raised concerns about the accountability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents following incidents in Minnesota and criticized the competence of immigration policy leadership. Congressman Cohen specifically addressed a recent large-scale ICE raid in Memphis, where approximately one hundred people were apprehended from a bar in a Hispanic neighborhood. He stated, “We don’t need ICE in Memphis,” and emphasized the necessity for rational law enforcement and immigration policy, asserting that sanctuary cities are not the problem. He also expressed his objection, alongside the Memphis mayor, to the raid.

2 people were killed and suspect is dead in downtown Minneapolis shooting, hospital officials say

2 people were killed and suspect is dead in downtown Minneapolis shooting, hospital officials say

According to officials, at least one person was killed and six others were injured in a shooting at an apartment building in downtown Minneapolis

2 people were killed and suspect is dead in downtown Minneapolis shooting

2 people were killed and suspect is dead in downtown Minneapolis shooting

According to officials, two people were killed and the suspect is dead in a shooting at an apartment building in downtown Minneapolis

Two 13-Year-Olds Injured in St. Paul Shooting Incident

Two 13-Year-Olds Injured in St. Paul Shooting Incident

St. Paul, Minnesota, police are investigating a shooting incident that occurred early Tuesday morning, resulting in injuries to two 13-year-olds. Officers responded to a report of a person shot in the 300 block of Aurora Avenue shortly after 2 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered a boy and a girl, both 13 years old, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to the leg. Authorities have stated that the injuries sustained by both teenagers are not life-threatening. A preliminary investigation suggests that the shooting took place near the intersection of Sherburne Avenue and Marion Street. The non-fatal shooting unit is currently handling the investigation, and as of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident. This event follows another separate shooting earlier in the evening in Minneapolis, where another 13-year-old boy was also shot and is expected to survive.

Photojournalist Shane Bollman Challenges Indictment, Citing Journalistic Coverage of Protest

Photojournalist Shane Bollman Challenges Indictment, Citing Journalistic Coverage of Protest

Photojournalist Shane Bollman, one of the defendants in the Cities Church case, has filed several pretrial motions, including a motion to dismiss and a motion to suppress. Bollman is attempting to differentiate himself from other defendants by arguing that he was covering the protest at Cities Church as a journalist, not participating in it. His motion to dismiss details his past photojournalism, emphasizing his focus on the 'human toll' of events. He describes flying to Minnesota to cover the Operation Metro Surge protests, arriving with press credentials and his camera. While he admits to briefly chanting with protestors at a parking lot meeting before the protest, he asserts this was the only overt act attributed to him in the indictment. He maintains that he engaged solely in newsgathering activities inside the church and had no prior communication or agreement with any co-defendants. Bollman's motion to suppress also addresses the seizure of his camera and iCloud data, alleging that the Department of ...

Justice Department sues Kansas school system over policies on transgender students

Justice Department sues Kansas school system over policies on transgender students

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the school system in Kansas City, Kansas, over its policies on transgender students