A federal judge in Texas on Wednesday, August 26th, 2026, rejected a request from Minnesota officials to extradite Christian Castro, a 52-year-old Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. Castro is accused of shooting a Venezuelan migrant in the leg during the height of "Operation Metro Surge" earlier this year.

Christian Castro has been jailed in Brownsville, Texas since late 2026. The extradition request was part of Minnesota’s effort to bring Castro to face charges related to the incident. However, the Texas federal court declined to compel his transfer.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between states regarding immigration enforcement and accountability for actions taken during federal operations.

Sources