DOJ Blocks Civil Rights Charges Against ICE Agent in Minneapolis Shooting, Pursuing False Statements Count
Updated
Updated · ProPublica · Sep 3
DOJ Blocks Civil Rights Charges Against ICE Agent in Minneapolis Shooting, Pursuing False Statements Count
3 articles · Updated · ProPublica · Sep 3
Summary
Washington DOJ leaders overruled Minnesota prosecutors and halted plans to charge ICE agent Christian Castro with a federal civil rights offense in the January shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, according to an internal email.
False statements charges could be filed soon under seal instead, a far less serious path than deprivation-of-rights charges; prosecutor Matthew Evans wrote he objected "in the strongest possible terms" but was overruled by Main Justice and the U.S. attorney.
Castro, 52, is accused of firing through a closed Minneapolis door during Operation Metro Surge, wounding Sosa-Celis in the leg; federal assault charges against the Venezuelan men were later dropped after video undercut agents' account.
The agent still faces Minnesota felony charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon, but was released last week after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott refused to extradite him; Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty says she fears he could flee.
The intervention adds to scrutiny of the Trump-era Justice Department's handling of immigration-agent shootings after Minneapolis saw three such incidents this year, including two fatal cases.