Daijiworld Media Network - Minnesota

Minneapolis, Aug 27: A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent charged in connection with the nonfatal shooting of a Minneapolis man in January has been released from a Texas jail after being detained for 90 days.

Christian Castro was released shortly before 7 am on Thursday, according to Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Trevino. Castro had been arrested by Texas Rangers on May 29 and detained for the maximum 90-day period permitted under Texas law.

His release came less than 24 hours after a federal judge in Brownsville rejected Minnesota's attempt to compel Texas to extradite Castro to the state.

Minnesota had filed a lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott on August 18, seeking Castro's extradition. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison had also asked the court to prevent Castro's release from the Cameron County jail until Abbott issued the necessary extradition order.

Ellison argued that Castro could potentially flee to Mexico because the jail is located near the US-Mexico border.

However, US District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr sided with Abbott and Texas, ruling that the facts surrounding the dispute had not fully developed and that the court therefore lacked subject-matter jurisdiction.

The judge said Minnesota's request was based on a premature or speculative allegation that Abbott might wrongfully refuse to honour the state's extradition request.

Following the ruling, Ellison said he disagreed with the decision and vowed to continue pursuing the case through the courts.

“Minnesota should never have had to file this lawsuit or this motion,” Ellison said, arguing that Abbott had a legal and constitutional duty to issue the warrant required to return Castro to Minnesota.

Castro faces four counts of assault in a Minnesota state court in connection with the January 14 shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis in Hennepin County.

The shooting occurred during ICE's Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.

Castro's release now adds another dimension to the legal dispute between Minnesota and Texas, with Minnesota authorities seeking to bring him back to the state to face the criminal charges.