Federal Judge Orders Release of Witness in Houston ICE Shooting Case
A federal judge has ordered the release of Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, a witness to the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Houston. Rojas Pliego, a Mexican citizen residing in the U.S. since 1998, was detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the incident. The judge's decision mandates his release within 48 hours, citing the lack of individualized justification for his detention. The shooting, which occurred during an ICE pursuit, has been controversial due to the absence of body camera footage and conflicting accounts of the event. Federal officials initially claimed there might have been methamphetamine in Salgado Araujo's van, but tests revealed no illicit substances. The case has raised questions about the justification of the shooting and the handling of evidence by federal investigators. 
