Judge temporarily blocks deportation of witness to fatal Houston ICE shooting
Judge Temporarily Blocks Deportation of Witness in Houston ICE Shooting Case
Tyunews.com – A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction preventing the Trump administration from deporting one of the key witnesses involved in a fatal Houston ICE shooting. The judge temporarily blocks deportation of witness Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego while the court reviews his legal petition. This significant ruling comes from U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, where Judge Keith P. Ellison determined that Pliego cannot be removed from the country or transferred outside the Southern District of Texas during the ongoing proceedings.
The incident occurred on July 7, 2026, when Pliego was riding in a van alongside Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during what appeared to be a routine traffic stop. According to court documents, Pliego has no criminal record and was simply a passenger in the vehicle when the shooting took place. ICE officials alleged that Salgado Araujo, who was reportedly undocumented, failed to follow verbal commands and "weaponized his vehicle" by attempting to run over an officer, which prompted the agent to fire their weapon "in self-defense."
Legal Proceedings and Witness Protection
Attorney Raed Gonzalez filed a petition on behalf of Pliego and another passenger, Daniel Tirado Pantoja, seeking their release from federal custody. Both men were detained by immigration agents following the tragic incident. Gonzalez emphasized that Pliego, who has been in the United States since 1998, is undocumented but is common-law married to a U.S. citizen. He has three children and four stepchildren, all of whom hold U.S. citizenship, according to his attorney's filing.
Pantoja, who has also resided in the country since 1996, faces similar circumstances. He has a son and stepdaughter who are both U.S. citizens, and like Pliego, he has no criminal record, Gonzalez noted in his habeas petition. Both witnesses are currently being held at the Montgomery ICE Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, while their legal representatives work to secure their release.
"He did not deserve to die," said the son of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, reflecting the community's grief and the broader concerns about immigration enforcement practices in Houston.
A separate attorney has filed a similar petition for Victor Hugo Salgado Araujo, the brother of the man who was fatally shot. He has also been detained by federal authorities following the incident. Local elected leaders have publicly stated that Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national who has lived and worked in the United States for 35 years, was not the intended target of the ICE operation. No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the shooting, and an official investigation remains ongoing.
The death of Salgado Araujo has sparked peaceful protests throughout Houston and has prompted calls from several Texas Democrats for ICE to reduce its immigration enforcement operations in the region. Community members have gathered at the site where Salgado Araujo was killed, placing flowers and candles in his memory. The case has drawn national attention as it raises questions about immigration enforcement procedures and the treatment of witnesses in such incidents.
ABC News' Ivan Pereira contributed to this report, providing additional context on the legal proceedings and community response to the tragic shooting that has become a focal point for immigration reform advocates in Texas.