Overview
- U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett ordered Daniel Tirado Pantoja released from federal custody within 48 hours, finding his continued detention violated his right to procedural due process.
- The court barred immigration officials from re‑detaining Tirado Pantoja without an immigration‑judge hearing that proves by clear and convincing evidence he is a flight risk or a danger to the community.
- Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego was earlier freed after a habeas ruling while Victor Hugo Salgado Araujo, the brother of the man killed, remains in ICE custody with his petition pending.
- ICE agent Christian Castro was released from a Brownsville, Texas, jail on Aug. 27 after a federal judge refused to force Gov. Greg Abbott to sign extradition papers and Texas law required release after 90 days; Minnesota officials say they will continue to pursue prosecution.
- Federal and state probes into both shootings are ongoing, investigators have not publicly named the Houston agent who fired, there is no body or dash camera footage for that stop, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is expected to appeal recent habeas rulings.