An ICE agent in Minneapolis is facing criminal charges after firing his service weapon through the closed front door of a home — shooting a Venezuelan immigrant in the leg while four adults and two children were inside.
What Happened on January 14
The agent, identified as Christian Castro, fired the shot on January 14, 2026, during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. According to prosecutors, video evidence shows Castro fired at the front door knowing that the people who had run inside presented no threat whatsoever. “Mr. Castro fired his service weapon at the front door of the home, knowing there were people who had just run inside that presented absolutely no threat to him or anyone else,” said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. The bullet struck Julio Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan immigrant, in the right leg.
Following the shooting, ICE agents deployed tear gas, breached the residence, and took all occupants into custody — including the two children who were inside when the shot was fired. No one inside the home was armed. No one had threatened the agents. The people who ran through that front door were not fleeing law enforcement — they were seeking shelter in their own home.
The Charges
Castro now faces four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime. A nationwide warrant has been issued for his arrest. If convicted on all assault counts, Castro could face three to seven years in prison per charge and fines of up to $14,000 per count — a total potential sentence that reflects how seriously prosecutors are treating the incident.
The falsely reporting charge adds another layer to the case. Prosecutors are alleging not only that Castro fired recklessly — but that he then misrepresented what happened in the aftermath. The combination of charges paints a picture of an agent who fired without justification and then attempted to cover it up.
A Historic Prosecution
This case is among the first criminal charges brought against an ICE agent for conduct during the current administration’s intensified immigration enforcement operations. Since early 2025, federal agents have conducted sweeping enforcement actions across major U.S. cities. Critics have long argued those operations lacked adequate oversight — and this prosecution is being closely watched as a test of whether federal agents can be held criminally accountable when they cross the line.
What This Means for Americans
This isn’t about immigration policy — it’s about whether any law enforcement officer, federal or local, can fire a weapon through a closed door at unarmed people in their own home and face no consequences. The presence of children inside makes the case even more stark. American law is clear: deadly force requires a genuine threat. A closed door, with people running behind it, doesn’t meet that standard — and prosecutors in Minnesota are saying so in the strongest possible terms.
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