Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national who had lived in the United States for decades without legal permission, was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Tuesday in Houston's Magnolia Park neighborhood, according to the Department of Homeland Security. His son Ronaldo Salgado said at a news conference Wednesday that his father had no criminal convictions during his time in the U.S. and was driving a crew to a homebuilding site when he was killed.
Federal officials say ICE officers were targeting Salgado Araujo because he was living in the country without legal permission. DHS stated that he ignored commands and attempted to ram an officer, which prompted the officer to fire in self-defense. The man's car struck an ICE vehicle, according to the department. Three other men appeared to be detained as Salgado Araujo lay on the ground, his son said.
What the Right Is Saying
DHS stated that the shooting occurred after Salgado Araujo ignored commands and attempted to ram an officer. The department characterized the officer's actions as self-defense, saying his vehicle was struck by the man's car.
Representatives of ICE and DHS have not responded to repeated requests for comment. The department has not released video or images of the shooting or damage to the vehicles.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin took over the department in March with the stated aim of keeping it away from controversies that marked his predecessor's tenure. In late June, arrests around the country surged to 10,000 over a five-day period, fueled in part by massive Congressional funding for immigration enforcement.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, previously threatened to cut more than $100 million in state funding for public safety after Houston City Council passed an ordinance limiting ICE cooperation, leading council members to reverse course.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia attended the news conference and confirmed that Salgado Araujo had no criminal convictions. Civil rights groups joined Ronaldo Salgado in demanding an independent investigation and the release of all video footage from the shooting.
League of United Latin American Citizens President Roman Palomares said the federal crackdown has created a country where it is "open season on Latinos" by officers who think they can "shoot and explain later."
"Your pattern has been one of inaccuracies of prejudicial leaks before the facts are known, of twisting the narrative to fit your version of events," Palomares said. The organization offered a $5,000 reward for information and videos from witnesses.
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said she is considering legal measures or may ask the United Nations to step in to stop violence against Mexicans in the United States. "There has been another tragic death of one of our compatriots in the United States due to detention issues, even though their only 'offense' is not yet having proper documentation," Sheinbaum said.
What the Numbers Show
This shooting is at least the eighth death from an encounter with federal immigration officials since the start of the Trump administration's intense immigration enforcement campaign, according to civil rights groups tracking these incidents.
In late June, arrests around the country surged to 10,000 over a five-day period, fueled in part by massive Congressional funding for immigration enforcement.
Salgado Araujo worked construction from sunrise to sunset for nearly 35 years. His son said he had carefully studied what to do if ICE pulled him over and was close to obtaining legal status through the proper process. He had completed biometric scans and fingerprints earlier this year.
A bystander video shows a black vehicle angled toward a white van with doors wide open. A bleeding and handcuffed man groans on the ground as federal officers stand over at least three other handcuffed men.
The Bottom Line
Federal officials have not released video or images of the shooting, and civil rights groups say ICE cannot be trusted to investigate itself fairly given previous contradictions between initial official descriptions and later video evidence in similar cases. Ronaldo Salgado said his father would have complied had he seen law enforcement insignia.
"Had my father seen an emblem of ICE or an emblem that says anything about a law enforcement agency, my father would have complied," his son said. "He did not deserve to be reduced to a headline."
What happens next: Advocates are calling on federal authorities to release all footage and for an independent investigation. Mexico's president is considering legal action or UN involvement. The case adds to ongoing debates about immigration enforcement tactics during the current administration's crackdown.