Witness to fatal Houston ICE shooting released after weeks in detention
Daniel Tirado Pantoja, 43, a construction worker in the U.S. for about 30 years, was detained after witnessing his employer's fatal shooting by ICE. A judge ruled his detention violated due process, and he was freed August 26, 2026.
Aug 26, 2026Houston, TXCountry of origin: Mexico

Daniel Tirado Pantoja, 43, a construction worker who had lived in the U.S. for roughly 30 years and was applying for a green card, was detained by ICE on July 7, 2026, after witnessing the fatal shooting of his employer, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, during a Houston traffic stop. Tirado Pantoja, who has a U.S. citizen son and stepdaughters and is in a common-law marriage with a legal permanent resident, disputed ICE's account of the shooting, saying agents were never in front of the van when they opened fire. Held at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, he lost 20 to 30 pounds and suffered depression linked to the trauma of the shooting and detention conditions, according to advocates supporting his family. U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett ruled his detention violated due process and ordered his release, and he was reunited with his wife outside the detention center on August 26, 2026.
Timeline
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Sources
- Second witness in Lorenzo Salgado shooting wins release from ICE detention
Houston Chronicle·Aug 25, 2026·archived copy
- ICE releases witness in fatal Lorenzo Salgado Araujo shooting after federal judge’s order
Click2Houston·Jul 29, 2026
- Houston ICE shooting witness can't be deported, judge says
Texas Tribune·Jul 21, 2026·archived copy
- Detained men who witnessed fatal ICE shooting seek special visas to prevent deportation, attorneys say
Houston Public Media·Jul 15, 2026
- The three witnesses to Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s death seek a visa to protect them from deportation
El País·Jul 16, 2026
- Federal judge orders release of Houston ICE shooting witness
Texas Tribune·Aug 25, 2026
- The three witnesses to Lorenzo Salgado’s death are free as the case moves toward a grand jury
El País·Sep 1, 2026
- Video Texas district attorney gives update on ICE detainee who was ran over before arrest
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