Houston ICE Shooting: Witness Says Victim Tried to Surrender Before Fatal Encounter
_x000D_Houston ICE shooting witness Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego says the deadly encounter has left him traumatized. He claims Lorenzo Salgado Araujo never threatened federal agents and intended to surrender before an immigration officer opened fire.
_x000D_The fatal shooting continues to raise questions about federal immigration enforcement and the use of deadly force.
_x000D_ _x000D_Houston ICE Shooting Witness Rejects Official Account
_x000D_Rojas Pliego said the official version of events does not match what he witnessed.
_x000D_He insisted Salgado Araujo never tried to attack officers or drive into law enforcement vehicles. Instead, he said the driver planned to stop and cooperate with agents.
_x000D_Rojas Pliego added that officers forcefully removed everyone from the van before they handcuffed Salgado Araujo after the shooting.
_x000D_ _x000D_Federal Agencies Continue Investigations
_x000D_The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that investigators are reviewing the shooting.
_x000D_The FBI is also examining allegations that officers faced an assault during the operation.
_x000D_Officials have not released body camera footage because the officers involved were not wearing body cameras during the incident.
_x000D_ _x000D_Family Demands Independent Investigation
_x000D_Salgado Araujo’s family rejects claims that he posed a danger to officers.
_x000D_Relatives say he had no criminal record and was applying for a legal work permit. They believe he would have complied if he had known the vehicles belonged to federal agents.
_x000D_Texas Democratic lawmakers and immigrant rights advocates have also called for an independent investigation into the shooting.
_x000D_ _x000D_Witness Describes Emotional Trauma
_x000D_Rojas Pliego said he cannot sleep after witnessing the shooting.
_x000D_He described Salgado Araujo as a hardworking employer who was simply driving his construction crew to work that morning.
_x000D_The witness said he now wants justice for Salgado Araujo, his family and other workers affected by the incident.
_x000D_ _x000D_Questions Remain
_x000D_The Houston ICE shooting remains under multiple federal investigations.
_x000D_Authorities continue reviewing evidence while the victim’s family and legal representatives seek answers about what happened during the traffic stop.
_x000D_The outcome of those investigations could shape future discussions about immigration enforcement and the use of force by federal officers.
