HOUSTON – José Trinidad Rojas Pliego has been released from the Montgomery Processing Center at an undisclosed location, according to his family’s attorney.
Rojas Pliego was inside a van in Magnolia Park when ICE agents shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo on July 7. A federal judge gave ICE 48 hours to release him on Tuesday.
Attorney Raed Gonzalez said Rojas Pliego has no criminal record and that this was his first interaction with federal agents.
“His family is traumatized as well. They saw the videos of (Lorenzo Salgado Araujo) dying on the floor, and suddenly their father, their husband, breadwinner is detained,” Gonzalez said. “Certainly looking forward to this reunification.”
A federal judge ordered ICE to release Rojas Pliego and provide his attorney with at least three hours’ notice before doing so.
Rojas Pliego has applied for a U visa, and the judge noted that his immigration case could take years to resolve.
Concerns about future ICE detention remain
The possibility of being detained again remains a concern for Rojas Pliego and his legal team. Gonzalez pointed to what he described as a pattern that has affected even U.S. citizens.
“There have been cases of U.S. citizens being detained three times, and the government continues to arrest them,” Gonzalez said. “The judge asked the government ... to provide a hearing in the case they want to re-arrest him.”
Other witnesses still waiting
The two other men who were in the van with Salgado Araujo have not been granted release orders, although their attorneys have filed petitions on their behalf. Gonzalez said the disparity is not uncommon because release decisions are made on a case-by-case basis by individual judges.
Gonzalez also said bond hearings are no longer required, a change that directly affects people detained by ICE at the Montgomery County processing facility.
A news conference is expected to be held Thursday.