U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison issued a temporary restraining order on Monday preventing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from deporting Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego. Rojas Pliego was one of three witnesses present during the July 7 fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by ICE agents in Houston. The judge’s order requires ICE to obtain court permission before deporting Rojas Pliego or transferring him out of the Southern District of Texas.
The shooting occurred during a traffic stop where ICE agents were reportedly searching for a different individual. The Department of Homeland Security stated that an agent fired in self-defense after Salgado Araujo allegedly used his vehicle as a weapon. The family of the deceased has challenged this account and requested an independent investigation. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare is currently investigating the incident and has applied for U visas for the witnesses, which can provide temporary legal status to victims or witnesses of crimes who assist law enforcement.
Legal disputes have also emerged regarding evidence found at the scene. An FBI affidavit suggested that methamphetamine may have been present in the work van driven by Salgado Araujo. However, District Attorney Teare and an attorney for one of the witnesses have disputed this, suggesting the substance was likely a salt mixture used for electrolytes. The shooting is undergoing reviews by both local and federal authorities.