Federal immigration officer Christian Castro, 52, was arrested Friday in Harlingen, Texas, on a statewide warrant issued by Hennepin County, Minnesota, prosecutors in connection with the Jan. 14 shooting of a Venezuelan man during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, according to authorities and official statements released in the last 36 hours.

The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that Texas Rangers assisted in Castro’s arrest in Cameron County, on or near the U.S.–Mexico border. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) had been searching for Castro following a statewide warrant issued after prosecutors filed charges earlier in May, alleging multiple felonies including four counts of second?degree assault with a deadly weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime. Castro was taken into custody “without incident,” officials said.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, who filed the charges, described the arrest as “a critical step forward in our prosecution of Mr. Castro” in a statement emphasizing accountability for law enforcement conduct. The attorney’s office said Castro’s actions occurred during “Operation Metro Surge” — a Trump administration?era crackdown on immigration in Minnesota — and stemmed from an incident in which Castro allegedly fired his service weapon into a Minneapolis house, striking Julio Cesar Sosa?Celis in the leg. The victim and others inside the home were legally present in the United States, according to prosecutors’ filings.

Prosecutors allege Castro initially reported that he and other agents were assaulted by occupants with a shovel and a broom prior to the shooting — a version of events later undercut by video evidence released by Minneapolis officials that showed no such prolonged assault. That footage, captured from a city security camera, played a central role in prompting the state’s criminal charges after local prosecutors concluded Castro had falsely characterized the encounter to federal investigators.

The case has reignited debate over the application of state law to federal immigration agents. In public statements, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General clarified that its agents were not involved in the arrest operation, countering earlier assertions by the county attorney’s office. A DHS spokesperson also reiterated in prior statements that agency leadership believed the prosecution was “unlawful” and politically motivated, arguing that alleged false statements by a federal officer should be handled through federal, rather than state, channels.

The incident is not isolated. It comes as the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has also pursued charges against another ICE agent, Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., in a separate case involving his conduct during “Operation Metro Surge,” when he allegedly pointed a firearm at a vehicle on a Minneapolis highway. Both cases have fueled broader scrutiny of the Minnesota enforcement campaign, which deployed more than 3,000 federal agents and drew protests and lawsuits amid allegations of excessive force.

Sosa?Celis’s shooting was nonfatal, but it became emblematic of larger concerns over federal immigration enforcement tactics after initial federal accounts were challenged by local evidence. After the state charges were filed, federal prosecutors dropped earlier assault charges against Sosa?Celis and another man that had been brought based on the federal narrative. Sosa?Celis was wounded in the thigh when Castro fired through the front door of the residence where he lived with other adults and children.

Following the release of video evidence and subsequent legal developments, Minnesota officials filed lawsuits seeking access to additional federal investigative materials from the Trump administration, arguing that transparency was necessary for proper public accountability. At the same time, federal authorities have launched their own internal reviews of whether false statements were made by agents during the incident, creating parallel investigative tracks.

Legal experts say the Castro case illustrates the complexity of overlapping jurisdictions when state prosecutors seek to hold federal agents accountable under state criminal law. Under the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, federal law generally preempts state law when conflicts arise, but state authorities maintain the power to bring charges for conduct that violates state criminal statutes, even when the alleged wrongdoing occurs in the context of federal duty. If Castro is extradited back to Minnesota to face charges, it could trigger legal arguments over jurisdiction and enforcement authority.

Castro, who was placed on administrative leave by ICE earlier this year pending investigation, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. It was not immediately clear whether he had retained legal counsel or had entered a plea as of Saturday afternoon. In addition to state criminal exposure, questions remain about potential federal administrative or criminal actions tied to his conduct and reporting related to the incident.

The broader enforcement campaign that produced this case — “Operation Metro Surge” — has been subject to sustained controversy since its launch, amid claims of aggressive tactics and significant community disruption. The Texas arrest has reignited discussion around immigration enforcement oversight, use of force standards, and mechanisms for accountability when federal agents operate in local communities.

As of this weekend, officials in both Texas and Minnesota are coordinating next steps, including potential extradition proceedings. The arrest in Texas caps a multi?week search and legal effort following the charges in Minnesota, and sets the stage for what is likely to be a high?profile trial scrutinizing the actions of a federal agent under state criminal law.