Witness Held in ICE Shooting Case | Bangor News

A federal judge has blocked the deportation of Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, a key witness in the July shooting death of Lorenzo Araujo Salgado during an ICE traffic stop in Houston. Rojas Pliego, who was in the van with Salgado, claims he’s being held illegally and wants to stay in Texas while his case unfolds. The incident sparked nationwide protests and renewed scrutiny of immigration enforcement, especially after similar fatal shootings in Maine and Florida. ICE says Salgado attempted to run over an officer, but prosecutors suspect the officers targeted the wrong van. Salgado, a 52-year-old father of three who’d lived in the U.S. for 35 years and was close to legal status, is now at the center of a legal storm. The Harris County DA is pushing for witness visas for the van’s occupants, though approval is uncertain. Another passenger, Daniel Tirado Pantoja, has also filed a legal challenge. The FBI found what they believed was meth in the van — the defense says it was just a salt mix for hydration — adding to the mounting complexity of this high-stakes legal and moral battle. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/813f6605660a039d