Judge bars deportation of witness in fatal ICE shooting of Mexican homebuilder

Key Points:

• A federal judge has blocked the deportation of Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, a witness in the fatal shooting of Mexican homebuilder Lorenzo Araujo Salgado by ICE officers during a traffic stop in Houston, ordering Rojas Pliego to remain in Texas while his habeas petition is pending.
• The shooting of Araujo Salgado on July 7, which sparked protests and calls for an independent investigation, involved ICE officers targeting two Guatemalan men driving a similar van; DHS claims Araujo Salgado attempted to run over an officer, a claim disputed by the passengers and their attorneys.
• Araujo Salgado, who had lived in the U.S. for 35 years and was close to obtaining legal status, was shot dead by ICE; his family and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office are assisting his passengers in applying for U visas as witnesses in the investigation.
• The FBI found a white substance in Araujo Salgado’s vehicle during a search, alleged to be methamphetamine, but his brother’s attorney stated it was a salt mixture used for hydration during manual labor.
• Other witnesses, including Daniel Tirado Pantoja, have also filed habeas petitions, and concerns about retaliation have led to requests to keep related legal documents sealed.