Federal Judge Denies Minnesota's Extradition Request for ICE Agent

A federal judge in Texas has denied Minnesota's emergency request to force the extradition of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent charged with shooting a man during an immigration operation in Minneapolis. The ruling, issued on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, clears the path for the agent, Christian Castro, to be released from a Texas jail on Thursday, August 27, 2026, after a 90-day detention limit expires.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. of the Southern District of Texas ruled that Minnesota's lawsuit was premature because Texas Governor Greg Abbott has not formally denied the extradition request. Instead, Abbott has left the matter under ongoing administrative review. The judge concluded that the federal court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction to intervene in the dispute, as no constitutional violation had yet occurred.

The case centers on an incident on January 14, 2026, during an immigration enforcement operation in north Minneapolis. Prosecutors allege that Castro, an ICE agent, fired his weapon through the front door of a residential home, striking 24-year-old Julio Cesar SosaCelis in the leg. Authorities further contend that Castro falsely reported that...