Witness in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's shooting to be released from detention center on Wednesday

Courtney Carpenter Image
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 2:00PM
Witness to ICE shooting must be released from detention, judge orders
A judge has ordered that a witness to the deadly ICE shooting must be released from immigration detention within 48 hours.

CONROE, Texas (KTRK) -- A federal judge ruled that Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, one of the three men who were in the van with Lorenzo Salgado Araujo when he was shot and killed by an ICE agent, is to be released from the immigration detention center in Conroe.

That order was filed on Monday and states that Rojas Pliego should be released within 48 hours, so he is expected to be released Wednesday evening.

Court documents show the judge agreed with Rojas Pliego's argument, essentially stating his Fifth Amendment right to due process was being violated.

Attorneys for the other two witnesses told ABC13 they have also filed similar petitions and are now waiting to see whether a judge will order their release.

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