A federal judge has temporarily barred the Trump administration from deporting one of the key witnesses to the fatal shooting of a Mexican construction worker by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Houston, ensuring the man remains available as multiple investigations into the incident continue.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison on Monday ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) not to deport José Trinidad Rojas Pliego, one of three passengers riding in the van driven by Lorenzo Salgado Araujo when the fatal shooting occurred on July 7. The order also prevents ICE from transferring Rojas Pliego outside the Southern District of Texas without the court's approval while his legal challenge is pending.
According to court filings, Rojas Pliego is seeking release from immigration detention through a habeas corpus petition, arguing his continued detention violates his constitutional rights. A DHS spokesperson said the agency will comply with the judge's order.
The ruling comes amid growing scrutiny of the shooting that killed Salgado Araujo, a Mexican homebuilder and longtime Houston resident. ICE has maintained that one of its officers fired in self-defense after Salgado allegedly attempted to drive his van into federal agents during a traffic stop.
However, attorneys representing the passengers dispute that account. They say the men witnessed the shooting and have consistently maintained that Salgado had already stopped the vehicle when he was shot through the passenger-side window, contradicting the federal government's version of events.
The fatal encounter sparked protests across Houston and prompted calls from elected officials for an independent investigation. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare has said his office is prepared to bring criminal charges if investigators determine federal agents acted unlawfully. The district attorney has also certified the three passengers as material witnesses, a step that could support future U visa applications designed to protect victims and witnesses cooperating with law enforcement.
Court documents describe Rojas Pliego as a Mexican citizen who has lived in the United States since 1998 and has no criminal record. His attorneys say he lives with his U.S. citizen partner and helps support a blended family that includes seven U.S. citizen children.
The legal fight over the witnesses' detention has become a central issue in the broader investigation. Lawyers argue that deporting or transferring the passengers before investigators complete their work could undermine efforts to determine exactly what happened during the July 7 encounter.
The shooting is being investigated by multiple agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, while Harris County prosecutors are conducting their own criminal review. Officials have released few details about the incident, including how many shots were fired.
The case has become one of the most closely watched immigration enforcement controversies of the year, fueling renewed debate over ICE operations, the treatment of witnesses in federal custody and the transparency of investigations involving federal law enforcement.
