Federal prosecutors have charged a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer with making false statements to investigators. The charges relate to a January shooting incident in Minneapolis, where an immigration crackdown led to a Venezuelan man being wounded.
The officer, Christian Castro, stands accused of shooting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg. Prosecutors allege that video evidence revealed inconsistencies in Castro’s initial account of the event. This new charge follows a decision to drop charges against Sosa-Celis, as the investigation expands.
There are ongoing discussions within the Justice Department about potential civil rights charges. This situation highlights internal debates surrounding the case’s handling.
Newsweek sought comments from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Justice Department, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. DHS directed inquiries to the DOJ.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.