A key witness in the fatal Houston ICE shooting is speaking publicly for the first time, offering an account that challenges the government’s version of events.
HOUSTON — A key witness to the fatal shooting of a Houston man by an ICE agent is giving his first detailed public interview after spending weeks in ICE detention, describing the moments leading up to the deadly encounter and disputing the government’s account of what happened.
Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego was inside the van driven by Lorenzo Salgado when Salgado was shot and killed by an ICE agent earlier this month. The two men, along with two other construction workers, were on their way to work when ICE officers in unmarked vehicles began pursuing them in east Houston.
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“I feel a bit traumatized or something like that. I’m sad about what happened, and especially about what I saw, since I was the one who witnessed it all,” Trinidad said, translated from Spanish in an interview with CNN.
Trinidad was released from the Conroe detention center earlier this week after a federal judge ordered his release. He had been held in ICE custody since the July 7 shooting.
His attorneys have said Trinidad has no criminal record and has lived in the United States for 28 years. His wife and stepchildren are U.S. citizens.
After his release, the federal government filed an appeal seeking to keep Trinidad in ICE custody. His attorneys have said they plan to fight the appeal and argue he should be allowed to remain with his family while his immigration case continues.
Witness describes what happened before the shooting
According to Trinidad, the pursuit began just before 7 a.m. on July 7 as ICE officers in unmarked cars chased the four-man construction crew.
Trinidad said he was seated a few feet behind Salgado in the van.
“Yo no me fijé ya nadamas cuando oi que nos esta presiguiendo la migracón y ya es todo.”
He said he heard the men in the front of the van say they were being chased by ICE officers.
Video shown in the report captures ICE officers pursuing the van in unmarked vehicles, including one moment where officers race past the van on Canal Street. The final video shows the three surviving occupants being taken into custody while Salgado is on the ground in handcuffs after being shot.
During an interview, Trinidad said the ICE agent fired through the passenger-side window.
Witness disputes Homeland Security account
The Department of Homeland Security said Salgado attempted to evade arrest during the pursuit, then “weaponized” his vehicle by trying to run over an ICE officer. DHS said an agent opened fire in self-defense.
Trinidad rejected that explanation.
He also said ICE agents were never positioned directly in front of or behind the van and claimed Salgado was preparing to surrender to officers.
“En ningún momento ni atrás ni enfrente.”
According to the report, there are no known videos showing the actual moment of the shooting, and the ICE officers involved were not wearing body cameras.
Judge orders witness’s release
The three men who were inside the van with Salgado remained in custody after the shooting.
Following his release, Trinidad visited a memorial honoring Salgado on Canal Street to pay his respects to the man he called his boss. He later visited Salgado’s gravesite.
Speaking to KHOU 11 after his release, Trinidad said, “They took Lorenzo Salgado’s life away… instead of giving him [help], they immediately handcuffed him. And they slammed him to the floor, and that’s not right. I want justice for Lorenzo Salgado. My boss was a good boss.”
In the CNN interview, Trinidad again said he hopes speaking publicly will help bring justice for Salgado and his family.
“Lo único que pido es justicia para el y para su familia.”
He said the men were simply on their way to work when the incident happened.