Federal immigration officials are pushing back hard against Minnesota prosecutors who filed criminal charges against an ICE agent involved in a January shooting, calling the state’s actions unlawful and purely political theater in an escalating clash over Operation Metro Surge.

Federal Response to State Charges

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials told reporters that Minnesota’s prosecution of Agent Castro represents unlawful interference by sanctuary politicians. The federal government maintains the agent acted appropriately during the operation. An ICE spokesperson emphasized that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is actively investigating statements made under oath connected to the case, warning that lying under oath constitutes a serious federal offense carrying potential termination and criminal prosecution.

Castro faces four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime from Hennepin County prosecutors. County Attorney Mary Moriarty alleges the agent fired through a duplex’s front door while standing outside and not facing physical danger. The bullet struck an occupant in the leg before lodging in a child’s bedroom wall.

Conflicting Accounts of the Incident

Hennepin County officials directly challenged the Department of Homeland Security’s initial public narrative. Federal authorities had claimed officers were assaulted with a broom handle and snow shovel during the encounter. Minnesota prosecutors now say those claims were false, noting that the federal press release containing what they call dozens of false statements remains published on the DHS website. Minneapolis released security camera footage last month showing the incident from a distance.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison backed the prosecution, stating the state must hold people accountable for violating the law and harming Minnesota residents. Moriarty declared at a Monday press conference that Castro committed the violent crime that night by shooting through a door with multiple people, including children, inside.

Broader Operation and Investigation

Operation Metro Surge brought thousands of federal agents to the Twin Cities earlier this year, sparking sustained protests following the January shootings. White House border czar Tom Homan defended the operation, citing more than 4,000 apprehensions including violent offenders and gang members. Minnesota is pursuing more than a dozen additional investigations into federal law enforcement conduct. Moriarty launched a public portal in March seeking photos and videos documenting potentially unlawful federal agent behavior. This marks the second prosecution Moriarty has filed against federal immigration agents from Operation Metro Surge, following April charges against Agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. for two counts of second-degree assault.