Image source, Gety ImagesByNardine Saad- Published10 minutes ago
A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent has been charged with lying about the non-fatal shooting of a Venezuelan migrant in the state of Minnesota.
Christian Castro, who was released from custody in Texas last week, faces federal charges relating to shooting on 14 January, according to the BBC's US media partner CBS.
The Department of Homeland Security initially said Castro fired in self-defence after being attacked by three Venezuelan illegal migrants with a shovel and broom handle. Minnesota investigators allege the agent fired through a closed door and shot the man in the leg.
It is rare for the current justice department to accuse a federal agent of breaking the law on the job.
What is ICE and what powers do its agents have to use force?
- Published4 February
The federal grand jury in Castro's case returned a six-count indictment against him on Wednesday, reports CBS.
According to US media, officials expect to make the indictment public once Castro is in custody.
The charges against him come after the governor of Texas refused to extradite Castro to Minnesota, where he faces separate charges of assault and false reporting of a crime related to the shooting.
He was arrested in Texas in May and jailed for three months.
Castro was one of thousands of federal immigration officers deployed to Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge, which sparked fierce protests and resulted in the deaths of two US citizens at the hands of agents during confrontations.
Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who was shot in the leg and survived, were originally charged with forcibly assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers.
After surveillance video raised questions about this version of events, federal prosecutors investigated the officers.
In February, ICE said two immigration agents might have made "untruthful statements" about the shooting. They were placed on administrative leave.
The charges against the migrants were dismissed, with prosecutors citing "newly discovered evidence", CBS reported.
Castro was arrested in Texas in May and Minnesota's top prosecutor asked for him to be extradited to stand trial, also filing a lawsuit last month seeking to compel Texas Governor Greg Abbott to sign off on extradition.
Abbott said that he did not approve the request because he had "serious doubts" that Castro qualified as a fugitive.
State officials have said Castro discharged his weapon through the front door of a home "knowing there were people who had just run inside".
The bullet travelled through the door and struck one victim in the leg, making its final impact in the wall of a child's room, they said.
The BBC has approached the office of Minnesota's top prosecutor for comment.
