Texas Governor Refuses Extradition of Former ICE Agent

Former ICE agent Christian Castro was released from the Carrizalez-Rucker Cameron County Detention Center in Brownsville, Texas, on August 27, 2026, after Greg Abbott declined to sign an extradition warrant. Castro faces charges in Minnesota for assault and falsely reporting a crime following a January 14 shooting of 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

Governor Abbott justified the refusal by citing an ongoing investigation into government social service fraud in Minnesota, claiming that Minnesota attorneys did not know the law. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison condemned the decision, accusing Abbott of turning Texas into a sanctuary state for accused felons and violent criminals. Ellison argued that the refusal violates federal and state laws, as well as the U.S. Constitution.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. denied a request by Minnesota officials to compel Castro's transfer. The judge ruled that the court cannot intervene without a final decision from the governor, though he noted that Castro could be a flight risk to Mexico. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has suspended Castro without pay pending an investigation, noting that officers may face termination or criminal prosecution upon its conclusion.