ICE agent arrested, accused of shooting migrant and lying

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent has been arrested in Texas, facing charges for allegedly shooting a Venezuelan migrant in Minnesota earlier this year and then lying about the circumstances. Christian Castro, the accused agent, now faces four counts of second-degree assault.

Investigators located Castro in Texas after state prosecutors in Minnesota filed charges against him in May. The incident occurred in January during a large-scale ICE operation. Castro reportedly shot Julio César Sosa, a Venezuelan migrant, in the leg. Prosecutors also accused Castro of filing a false report, claiming Sosa and another migrant attacked him with a shovel and a broomstick.

However, state investigators found evidence, including video footage, that contradicted the agents' accounts. Initially, charges were brought against the two migrants, but they were dropped after the video evidence emerged. ICE's acting director, Todd Lyons, acknowledged in February that agents involved had provided "false testimony" under oath.

The arrest of Castro is seen as a significant step in the judicial process, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. This incident occurred during "Operation Metro Surge," a Trump administration operation that deployed hundreds of immigration agents to Minneapolis, leading to clashes with civilians. Two U.S. citizens, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, were also killed by ICE agents during this operation.