The family of a Mexican national who was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Houston is demanding an independent investigation into his death, claiming the 35-year veteran construction worker posed no threat and had no criminal record during his decades in the United States.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was transporting a work crew to a residential construction site on Tuesday when federal agents in unmarked vehicles approached them in Magnolia Park, a historically Mexican American neighborhood. His son, Ronaldo Salgado, suggested his father may have feared the unmarked vehicles belonged to thieves attempting to steal his work tools rather than law enforcement officials conducting an immigration operation.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the victim ignored commands and attempted to ram an officer, who then fired in self-defense. Federal authorities claim the man’s vehicle struck an ICE vehicle during the encounter. However, officials have not released any video footage or photographic evidence to support their account of the incident. Salgado Araujo was shot in the abdomen and later died at a local hospital.
Democratic Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia confirmed that the victim had no criminal convictions, while his family emphasized he was actively working toward obtaining legal status. His son emotionally stated at a press conference that his father spent 35 years building homes from dawn to dusk to send his three American-born sons to college, and did not deserve to be reduced to a headline.
Civil rights organizations, including the League of United Latin American Citizens, are offering a reward for witness information and videos. They have urged anyone with footage to avoid turning it over to ICE, expressing concerns that evidence could be destroyed. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare acknowledged the family deserves answers but noted that federal authorities maintain exclusive jurisdiction over the investigation. This incident marks at least the eighth death resulting from encounters with federal immigration officers since the current administration intensified enforcement operations.
