Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott, seeking to compel the extradition of an ICE agent charged with assault and falsely reporting a crime in connection with a shooting in Minneapolis.
The lawsuit highlights a legal and political dispute between states over the extradition process, potentially impacting inter-state cooperation in criminal justice and the accountability of federal agents operating within state jurisdictions.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott, seeking to compel the governor to sign an extradition warrant for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. The agent, Christian Castro, is wanted in Minnesota to face charges of assault and falsely reporting a crime in connection with the shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis on January 14.
Ellison stated that Castro is scheduled for release from jail in Texas next week, 90 days after his detention, under Texas law, unless he is extradited. The Minnesota AG is also seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office in Texas from releasing Castro and to require Abbott to sign the warrant, allowing Minnesota law enforcement to take custody of him.
"Christian Castro has been charged with breaking the law in Minnesota," Ellison said at a news conference. "He must face justice in Minnesota. Gov. Abbott should have granted Gov. Walz’s extradition request long ago and is required to do so now." Ellison emphasized that neither Castro nor Abbott are above the law.