The legal dispute over one of the witnesses of the ICE operation that ended with the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo took a new turn in Texas, after a federal judge temporarily blocked the deportation of José Trinidad Rojas Pliego, who was in the vehicle during the incident that occurred in Houston. Judge Keith P. Ellison, of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, ordered that Pliego cannot be expelled from the country or transferred out of that jurisdiction while the court reviews his case. The decision represents a pause in the immigration process against one of the men who could provide information about the operation that ended with the death of Mexican Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a case that has raised questions about the actions of federal agents.

Defense rejects that Pliego is a risk

Lawyer Raed González filed a habeas corpus petition to request the release of Pliego and Daniel Tirado Pantoja, another man who was traveling in the truck when the confrontation occurred and who also remains in federal custody. According to documents submitted to the court, Pliego has no criminal record and has been living in the United States for almost three decades. His lawyer indicated that he has lived in the country since 1998, has a relationship with a US citizen and has three sons and four stepchildren who have US citizenship. In the case of Pantoja, the defense indicated that he has lived in the United States since 1996, has a son and a stepdaughter who are US citizens and does not have a criminal record. Both men remain detained at the Montgomery ICE Processing Center, in Conroe, Texas.

The court analyzes the immigration situation of the witness

Judge Ellison's order does not resolve Pliego's immigration case, but prevents authorities from deporting him while the court evaluates the arguments presented by his defense. The lawyer maintains that Pliego's stay in custody affects his ability to participate in the investigation related to the death of Salgado Araujo and questions whether he could be removed from the country before the circumstances of the operation are clarified. Another judicial appeal was filed on behalf of Víctor Hugo Salgado Araujo, brother of the deceased man, who He also remains detained by immigration authorities.

ICE defends the use of force during the operation

The confrontation that led to the death of Salgado Araujo occurred on July 7 during a traffic stop in Houston. According to ICE, Salgado Araujo, who allegedly did not have immigration authorization to remain in the United States, ignored the agents' orders and used the vehicle as a threat when trying to run over an official. The agency stated that the shooting occurred as a self-defense response. So far, no charges have been filed against anyone related to the incident and the investigation remains open. Representatives Locals have questioned the official version and have pointed out that Salgado Araujo, a Mexican citizen who lived and worked in the United States for 35 years, was not the main objective of the operation.

The case provokes criticism of ICE immigration operations

Salgado Araujo's death sparked peaceful protests in Houston and led some Texas Democratic lawmakers to call for a review of immigration enforcement operations carried out by ICE. Critics of the operation have pointed out the need for greater transparency in the procedures used by federal agents, while immigration authorities defend their actions as part of enforcing immigration laws.

With the order issued by the federal court, Pliego will remain temporarily protected from deportation while the judicial review of his case continues and the investigation into the death of Salgado Araujo continues.