Passengers in a van involved in a fatal shooting by an immigration agent in Houston claim that two unmarked vehicles struck their van from behind and the side before they stopped. The incident occurred on July 7 in Houston’s heavily Latino east side.

Witness Accounts

Daniel Tirado Pantoja and Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, both passengers in the van, provided written statements that contradict the initial account given by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokespeople. According to the passengers, the ICE agents did not have their emergency lights and sirens on during the stop.

Rojas Pliego stated that the agents cornered them and instructed the driver, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, to stop the van. Despite Salgado Araujo coming to a full stop, an ICE agent fired his weapon, fatally shooting him. The passengers’ accounts suggest that the agents’ actions were not justified, as they did not pose an immediate threat.

Investigation and Response

The incident has sparked renewed criticism of ICE’s tactics, particularly the use of unmarked vehicles during deportation attempts. The Trump administration has faced scrutiny over its mass deportation goals, with many arguing that the methods employed by ICE are overly aggressive and put both agents and civilians at risk.

A federal judge in Houston has ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) not to deport Rojas Pliego or transfer him to a detention facility outside the region without the court’s permission. The court filings also included character reference letters from family members and an employer, describing the men as kind and hardworking.

Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.