Federal judge orders release of witness to Houston ICE shooting

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed during a traffic stop on July 7.

A federal judge has ordered the release of a witness to the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by federal immigration officers during a traffic stop in Houston.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison issued the order releasing Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego on Monday, one week after blocking the federal government from deporting him.

Rojas Pliego, who is currently being held at the Montgomery ICE Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, was on his way to work on July 7 when federal immigration officers stopped the vehicle in which he was a passenger. ICE officers fired shots at the vehicle, killing the driver, Salgado Araujo.

Since the shooting, Rojas Pliego has been in custody "without an individualized bond determination."

“Given the severity of this ongoing unconstitutional deprivation of Petitioner’s liberty, the Court concludes that immediate release from custody is required,” Judge Ellison wrote in his order.

ICE said in a statement that Araujo "weaponized his vehicle" and tried to run over an officer during the stop, prompting the officer to fire their weapon "in self-defense."

"The driver was struck, and emergency services were immediately contacted. The driver was transported to the hospital, where he passed away from his injuries," ICE said.

Tirado Pantoja has been in the country since 1996 and has a son and stepdaughter who are both U.S. citizens. He does not have a criminal record, according to his habeas petition.

Judge Ellison ordered the government to release Rojas Pliego from custody within 48 hours.

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