NOW PLAYING
A federal judge in Houston ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday to release a man who witnessed federal immigration officers fatally shooting Lorenzo Salgado Araujo earlier this month.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison wrote that the continued detention of Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego constitutes an “unconstitutional deprivation” of his liberty.
Ellison, an appointee of former President Clinton, noted Rojas Pliego’s case is “one of hundreds of similar” habeas corpus petitions he has received regarding the Trump administration’s detention of undocumented migrants.
“Petitioner argues, among other claims, that his mandatory detention violates his Fifth Amendment right to due process of law. The Court agrees,” Ellison wrote in his five-page ruling.
The Hill has reached out to DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for comment.
Roja Pliego, a Mexican citizen, was one of three passengers in a van Salgado Araujo was driving when ICE officers began to follow them. An officer later shot Salgado Araujo, who was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
While federal officials have said Salgado Araujo, 52, was weaponizing his car against ICE officers when he was shot, the passengers in the car and his family have disputed that account.
Salgado Araujo, a father of three, lived in the Houston area for 35 years, owned a construction business and was close to obtaining legal status, according to his family.
Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) also said earlier this month acting ICE Director David Venturella told her that Salgado Araujo was not the target of the operation.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare (D) said Friday that federal officials have not shared evidence with his office, including the name of the ICE officers who shot Salgado Araujo.
Ellison ordered DHS to release Rojas Pliego in a public place within 48 hours. He also ordered the department to notify his counsel of the time and place of Rojas Pliego’s release at least three hours before releasing him.
DHS must also return “all personal property” to Rojas Pliego upon his release, including all identification documents, under the order. If the Trump administration seeks to re-detain Rojas Pliego during his removal proceedings, it must provide him with prior notice and a pre-detention hearing, Ellison wrote.
Add as preferred source on Google Tags Bill Clinton DHS habeas corpus ICE ICE shootings TexasCopyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments: Link copiedMore Court Battles News
See All
Court Battles Former Olympian charged with Reflecting Pool vandalism sees grand jury ‘irregularities’ by Finya Swai 5 hours ago Court Battles / 5 hours ago 
