Minnesota Sues Texas Governor to Force ICE Agent Extradition

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of Texas against Governor Greg Abbott to compel the extradition of Christian Castro, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. Castro is charged with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime following a January 14 shooting in Minneapolis. Prosecutors allege Castro fired through a front door, striking Venezuelan immigrant Julio Sosa-Celis in the leg, and then lied about the incident, claiming he was attacked with a broom and shovel.

Castro was arrested by Texas Rangers on May 29 and is currently held at the Cameron County Jail. Although Minnesota Governor Tim Walz submitted a formal extradition request on June 3, Governor Abbott has refused to sign the warrant. Abbott has conditioned his cooperation on Minnesota acknowledging and repaying alleged widespread fraud within state social services and Medicaid-funded programs, stating he does not trust Governor Walz.

Ellison is seeking a temporary restraining order against Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Trevino to prevent Castro's release. Under Texas law, fugitives awaiting extradition can only be detained for 90 days, a deadline that expires on August 26. Minnesota officials and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty argue that extradition is a non-discretionary administrative process and that Abbott's refusal is unconstitutional. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has characterized the Minnesota prosecution as an unlawful political stunt, asserting that federal authorities have sole jurisdiction over the case.