A federal judge in Texas has rejected Minnesota’s effort to force Gov. Greg Abbott to immediately decide whether to approve the extradition of ICE officer Christian Castro. Castro is facing assault charges connected to an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis earlier this year.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ruled that Minnesota’s request was premature because Abbott had not yet formally approved or denied the extradition warrant. The judge also determined that the constitutional Extradition Clause and the Texas law cited by Minnesota did not establish a specific deadline requiring the governor to act.
Minnesota prosecutors accuse Castro of firing through the closed door of an occupied home and hitting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg. Castro has disputed the allegations, maintaining that he acted in self-defense after he was attacked. He faces multiple second-degree assault charges as well as an allegation of falsely reporting a crime.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison criticized Abbott’s handling of the extradition request and said the state would continue pursuing the case. Abbott has questioned whether Minnesota has met the legal requirements necessary for Castro to be extradited to face the charges.
The judge’s decision does not determine whether Castro is guilty or innocent, nor does it end the criminal case against him. Instead, it leaves the extradition dispute unresolved for now, with Abbott still responsible for deciding whether and when to act on Minnesota’s request. The case is likely to remain closely watched as the two states continue their legal battle.
