RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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One of three witnesses to the fatal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shooting of a Houston father and construction worker has been released from federal custody—and within hours, he visited a memorial honoring the man he says was "a good boss."
Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego was released from the Conroe detention center on Wednesday afternoon, visiting the memorial for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo just hours later, as reported by KHOU 11 . Rojas Pliego, one of three passengers riding in the van with Salgado Araujo when he was shot and killed, said he wanted to pay his respects to his boss.
"They took Lorenzo Salgado's life away... instead of giving him [help], they immediately handcuffed him and they slammed him to the floor, and that's not right," Rojas Pliego told KHOU's Anayeli Ruiz. "I want justice for Lorenzo Salgado. My boss was a good boss."
Rojas Pliego has lived in the U.S. since 1998, has several children and stepchildren who are U.S. citizens and has no criminal record, according to a court order reviewed by the Texas Tribune.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison ordered Rojas Pliego's release on Monday, according to the Associated Press. Ellison's release order came less than a week after he blocked Rojas Pliego's deportation, ruling that the government cannot detain him based solely on unlawful entry without individualized justification.
Rojas Pliego's release comes weeks after the July 7 fatal shooting of 52-year-old Salgado Araujo by ICE agents in Houston, which drew national attention and backlash. Authorities detained Roja Pliego that same day.
Following Salgado's death, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Salgado Araujo "weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer" and that the officer fired in self-defense. Rojas Pliego and another van passenger have disputed that account, saying officers were beside the vehicle rather than in its path. Rojas Pliego described the government's version as "a lie."
Shortly after his release Wednesday, the federal government filed an appeal seeking to keep Pliego in ICE custody, according to KHOU 11. His attorneys said they plan to fight the appeal, arguing he should be allowed to remain with his family while his immigration case proceeds.
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