Minnesota is taking legal action against Texas Governor Greg Abbott to compel the extradition of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer involved in a shooting incident from January, as a critical detention deadline approaches this Thursday.
Christian Castro, the ICE officer in question, was released from a Texas jail despite Minnesota’s extradition request. The release occurred at 6:59 a.m. on Thursday, as confirmed by Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Treviño.
Castro had been in custody since May, following his arrest by the Texas Rangers. He faced charges from Hennepin County, Minnesota, related to the shooting of an immigrant, which included allegations of providing false information regarding the incident.
Under Texas law, individuals awaiting extradition cannot be held for more than 90 days. In response to Castro’s impending release, Minnesota filed a lawsuit aimed at preventing it. However, a judge ruled against Minnesota’s request, stating that it was premature since Governor Abbott had yet to reach a decision on the extradition.
Governor Abbott expressed support for the judge’s ruling, characterizing Minnesota’s actions as an overreach into his state’s authority. The timeline for Abbott’s decision regarding Castro’s extradition remains uncertain.
