ICE Officer Walks Out of Texas Jail

ICE Officer Walks Out of Texas Jail

The News

The ICE officer at the center of a state-versus-state extradition fight is out of jail.

The ruling that opened the door

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ruled that Minnesota's lawsuit against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was premature. Abbott had not denied Minnesota's extradition request, the judge found — he had referred it for review.

That ruling did not end the extradition proceedings. It only blocked Minnesota from forcing Abbott's hand before his review is finished.

Timeline

Thursday

Christian Castro was released from a detention center in Brownsville, Texas, early Thursday, free for the first time in 90 days, according to the New York Post and The Washington Times. PBS NewsHour reported the release came after a judge refused to order his return to Minnesota.

What's Next

What happens next

The Texas secretary of state must finish a fugitive-eligibility review before Abbott decides whether to issue an extradition warrant.

If Abbott formally denies the request, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's office can refile its suit.

More

What Castro is charged with

Minnesota prosecutors have charged Castro with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime.

The charges stem from the Jan. 14 shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis during an ICE operation in Minneapolis known as Operation Metro Surge, according to the Washington Examiner and RedState.

Federal prosecutors dropped their charges against Sosa-Celis after video contradicted Castro's account of the shooting.

Castro has not been convicted of anything. The Minnesota charges are accusations, and the case is still live.

Sources: PBS NewsHour, PennLive, WESH 2 News, WGAL 8, The Washington Times, Washington Examiner, New York Post, RedState.

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