Kathmandu— Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed suit against the governor of Texas, seeking the extradition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Christian Castro. Castro is facing state charges related to the January 14th shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis, an incident that occurred during President Donald Trump’s heightened immigration enforcement efforts. The lawsuit alleges Governor Greg Abbott has improperly withheld a warrant for Castro's transfer for nearly three months, obstructing the agent’s prosecution on counts of assault and falsely reporting a crime. Ellison argues Abbott is legally obligated to comply with the extradition request.

The Shooting and Initial Claims

The incident occurred during an ICE operation in Minneapolis, part of Trump's “Operation Metro Surge,” which saw increased immigration enforcement tactics in the area. Initially, federal officials claimed agents fired in self-defense after being attacked with a broom and snow shovel by Sosa-Celis and others. Then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem characterized the event as an attempted murder of an ICE agent. However, video evidence later surfaced contradicting those claims, leading federal prosecutors to drop charges against Sosa-Celis and his housemate, Alfredo Aljorna.

Internal Review Reveals Discrepancies

An internal review by ICE and the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that Castro and another agent had provided untruthful statements regarding the shooting. Todd Lyons, then-Acting Director of ICE, stated in February that a review of video evidence revealed discrepancies in sworn testimony from both officers. Both agents were subsequently placed on administrative leave. In May, Hennepin County Attorney’s Office charged Castro with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime.

Extradition Dispute and Flight Risk Concerns

Castro was arrested in Texas on May 29th and has remained detained since. Ellison expressed concern that Texas officials, including Governor Abbott – an ally of former President Trump – might seek Castro’s release instead of allowing him to stand trial in Minnesota. The attorney general described Castro as a flight risk, citing potential connections to Mexico and the possibility he could attempt to flee the country. Under Texas law, Castro could be released from custody if Abbott does not authorize his extradition within 90 days of his detention.

Broader Context of Immigration Enforcement

The Sosa-Celis shooting is one of several incidents this year that have raised questions about the use of force during immigration proceedings. Operation Metro Surge, which targeted the Minneapolis area, drew criticism for its escalating tactics, including warrantless home searches. During protests against the operation, two US citizens – Renee Good and Alex Pretty – were killed by agents.

As of Tuesday, Abbott’s office has declined to comment on the pending extradition matter, leaving Castro's fate uncertain as the 90-day detention period nears its end.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.