HOUSTON – In a highly significant decision for immigrant rights and the accountability of federal agencies, a district judge has temporarily prohibited the deportation of a man who witnessed the fatal shooting of a Mexican construction worker by ICE agents earlier this month.
The order, issued by Federal Judge Keith Ellison, states that José Trinidad Rojas Pliego must remain in the Southern District of Texas while his habeas corpus petition is resolved. Rojas Pliego was one of the passengers in the truck driven by 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, when the latter was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on July 7 during a traffic stop.
Conflicting Versions of the Shooting
The case has sparked strong protests and demands for transparency. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims that the agent shot in “self-defense” because Salgado Araujo attempted to run him over with the vehicle. However, Rojas Pliego and two other passengers who are also in ICE custody formally dispute the official version through their attorneys.
Salgado Araujo, a father of three who had resided in the United States for 35 years, had no criminal record and was close to regularizing his legal status. According to federal prosecutors, the original ICE operation did not target him, but rather two Guatemalan citizens who were driving a similar vehicle.
The U Visa: Protection for Those Who Cooperate with Justice
This judicial halt opens the door to a vital legal recourse: the U Visa. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed it is assisting Rojas Pliego and the other two passengers in applying for this special visa.
The U Visa is specifically designed for victims or witnesses of serious crimes who have suffered physical or mental abuse and are willing to cooperate with authorities in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activities. Its main benefits include:
- The immediate suspension of any deportation proceedings.
- Obtaining a legal work permit.
- An eventual path to permanent residency.
Community Impact and Official Response
Rojas Pliego’s defense highlights that the witness has lived in the country since 1998, is common-law married to a U.S. citizen, and has seven citizen children and stepchildren. The risk of his deportation would not only affect his family but would also deprive the justice system of an essential testimony to clarify Salgado Araujo’s death.
Following Judge Ellison’s ruling, a DHS spokesperson stated on July 21, 2026, that the agency “will comply with the court’s order.” Meanwhile, the case remains under federal investigation by the FBI, which recently executed a search warrant on the victim’s vehicle to delve deeper into the details of the incident.
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