Canal Street shooting witness Daniel Tirado Pantoja released from ICE custody amid Houston immigration scrutiny

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A federal judge has ordered that the U.S. [ABC13 Eyewitness News]

A federal judge ordered the release of a second witness detained in connection with the July shooting death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Houston's East End. U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett directed that Daniel Tirado Pantoja be freed from custody within 48 hours, with authorities required to release him in a public location within the Southern District of Texas and provide his legal team three hours' notice beforehand.

Pantoja was one of three men riding in Salgado Araujo's vehicle when federal agents opened fire. His release follows a similar court order in July freeing Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, another passenger in the van. The two men and Salgado Araujo's brother, Victor Salgado Araujo, represent the only known witnesses to the shooting, as the ICE officers involved carried neither body cameras nor dashboard cameras during the incident.

Immigration attorney Raed Gonzalez, representing Pantoja, highlighted his client's background as grounds for release. "His common law wife is a legal permanent resident, he has three U.S. citizen children, living in the United States since 1996, no criminal record, just hard working taxpayer, undocumented," Gonzalez stated. Victor Salgado Araujo, the third witness, remains in immigration detention but has filed his own petition seeking release.

The cases come as Houston authorities released the first quarterly report detailing the Houston Police Department's coordination with ICE. According to data presented to City Council, officers made 103 immigration-related database inquiries that prompted ICE contact. The individuals affected were held an average of 39 minutes while determinations were made, with 59 released at the scene, 19 transferred to ICE custody, and 14 facing additional criminal charges.

City Council Member Alejandra Salinas criticized HPD's handling of the presentation, noting that Police Chief Noe Diaz failed to appear despite being scheduled. "My question to HPD is why do you have to hide - you know it is not going fine. Right now we are calling ICE on people that are calling crimes," Salinas said. She added that the chief's absence undermined public confidence, calling for an apology and a commitment to answer outstanding questions about the department's immigration enforcement practices.