Minnesota Attorney General

Former CBP sector chief Greg Bovino, who led aggressive federal immigration operations in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Minneapolis last year, defended the Twin Cities operation at a New York Young Republicans event in Manhattan, claiming CBP had used a "light touch" that allowed "lawlessness" to fester. Minneapolis' Operation Metro Surge ended after ICE officer Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good and CBP officers killed Alex Pretti. Bovino now says the Minneapolis operation was "an ICE mission, not Border Patrol," despite DHS and Minnesota's Attorney General previously identifying him as commanding operations there.

Bovino was removed from Minneapolis after backlash, including from Sen. Rand Paul, over his refusal to investigate the shootings. He has continued espousing far-right rhetoric, including calls for "remigration" and deportation of "100 million" people, and has courted ties to European far-right parties. His tactics — including federalizing the California National Guard and using tear gas despite court restrictions — drew Supreme Court scrutiny and widespread protest, though his high-profile urban operations have since ended.

ICE agent Christian Castro was released Thursday from a Cameron County, Texas jail, hours after a federal judge rejected Minnesota's bid to compel Gov. Greg Abbott to sign an extradition warrant and keep Castro detained past Texas's 90-day limit. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a Trump appointee, ruled the case was not yet "ripe" because Abbott had not denied the extradition request, only ordered an investigation into whether Castro qualifies as a "fugitive." Sheriff Manuel Trevino said Texas law required Castro's release once the 90-day window lapsed. His whereabouts afterward were unknown, and it was unclear if he has legal representation.

Castro faces assault and false-reporting charges in Minnesota after shooting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis during a January 14 Minneapolis ICE operation. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, calling Texas a "sanctuary state for violent criminals," cited jailhouse calls about fleeing to Mexico and vowed to keep fighting. Abbott's office said the ruling affirmed his authority to review extradition requests before acting.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has sued Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Trevino in federal court, seeking to force Abbott to sign extradition paperwork for ICE agent Christian Castro. This follows a judge's earlier denial of Minnesota's request for a restraining order to keep Castro jailed in Texas amid the extradition dispute. Castro faces four felony counts of second-degree assault and a misdemeanor count of falsely reporting a crime after a January shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis during Operation Metro Surge, with surveillance video contradicting his account. Minnesota's suit argues the nearly three-month delay is unlawful and unusual, noting past extraditions between the states were typically resolved within about 30 days, and cites a 1987 Supreme Court ruling requiring states to honor extradition requests. Abbott, facing reelection, has not commented on the pending matter. Texas law caps fugitive detention at 90 days, making Castro eligible for release around August 26. The Justice Department is reportedly weighing separate federal charges.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has sued Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in federal court in Brownsville, seeking an order compelling extradition of ICE agent Christian Castro, who faces Minnesota charges of assault and falsely reporting a crime after allegedly shooting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg during a Jan. 14 Minneapolis raid. Castro was arrested in Texas in May; prosecutors say he fired through a front door and then falsely claimed he was attacked with a broom and shovel, an account contradicted by video. DHS has called the prosecution a "political stunt" and asserts federal jurisdiction, while the lawsuit also names Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Trevino.

Ellison warns Castro could be released under Texas' 90-day bail rule as early as Aug. 26 and potentially flee to Mexico, citing jailhouse calls in which Castro discussed marrying a woman there and buying a house. Abbott's office has repeatedly declined to comment on "pending extradition matters" and has not signed the warrant despite Ellison noting Texas normally processes such requests in about 30 days. Ellison cites a 1987 Supreme Court ruling making extradition compliance mandatory. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty calls the case "not about politics," while the dispute underscores broader friction between state and federal authority over immigration enforcement.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced charges against two men accused of stealing more than $1.5 million from the state's Medicaid program. Salman Ahmed Elmi, who previously received an "Outstanding Refugee Award for Entrepreneurship" from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, faces eight felony theft counts tied to his company, Reva Health, which allegedly billed over $1,000,000 for mental health services that were never provided, ineligible for reimbursement, or delivered by unqualified providers with little to no supervision. Prosecutors say Elmi and co-conspirators fabricated documents and paid recipients illegal kickbacks to use their information for false claims. Some alleged co-conspirators reportedly have ties to a recent sex trafficking ring bust.

In a separate case, Mohamed Haji Rashid faces nine felony theft charges over more than $300,000 in improper Medicaid billing. The charges come amid heightened federal scrutiny of Medicaid fraud, after the Department of Health and Human Services deferred over $1 billion in payments to Minnesota and California in July.