Minnesota AG suing Texas governor to force extradition of ICE agent
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is suing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to force the extradition of ICE officer Christian Castro, who is accused of shooting a man in north Minneapolis in January and falsely reporting the circumstances.
Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced the lawsuit Tuesday. Castro was charged in May with four counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime in connection with the Jan. 14 shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis.
Castro was arrested in Cameron County, Texas, on May 29 on a nationwide warrant. He remains jailed there after Moriarty asked Abbott in July to sign his extradition paperwork.
If Abbott does not act, Castro could be released as early as Aug. 26, when Texas’ 90-day detention limit expires. Ellison says Castro could then flee Minnesota or leave the country. He and Moriarty consider him a flight risk because of connections to Mexico and hope a judge blocks his release.
Moriarty said Abbott’s office finally responded Tuesday but vaguely indicated the governor does not intend to honor the request, calling extradition discretionary without citing a statute or case. Since Castro’s arrest, Abbott has signed three other extradition warrants for fugitives wanted by Minnesota.
Prosecutors say Castro falsely claimed he was attacked with a broom and shovel before shooting Sosa-Celis in the leg. Surveillance video, witness statements and other evidence contradicted his account.
The shooting came a week after Renee Good was fatally shot and days before Alex Pretti was fatally shot in Minneapolis, triggering a night of unrest in north Minneapolis.
