HOUSTON — Calls for an independent investigation intensified on Wednesday following the fatal shooting of a man by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Houston, the latest in a series of deadly encounters involving immigration officers.
Shooting Details and ICE Account
According to ICE, the shooting occurred on Tuesday morning during a targeted enforcement operation. The deceased, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, allegedly rammed his vehicle into an ICE vehicle and attempted to run over an officer. The agent then fired in self-defense, the agency stated. Salgado was a Mexican national living illegally in the United States, ICE said. Reuters could not independently verify his immigration status or the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Family's Grief and Call for Justice
At a press conference on Wednesday, Salgado's son, Ronaldo, described his father as a peaceful man who had lived in the U.S. for 35 years working as a construction worker. "He dedicated his life in the United States to giving his family the American dream," Ronaldo said, adding that his father was in the process of obtaining legal status and was close to achieving it. Joined by members of Congress, Latino advocacy leaders, and Houston officials, Ronaldo called for a full investigation into his father's death.
Ronaldo said he learned of the incident after seeing a video on social media showing his father on the ground beside his white van. "I recognized him immediately, not from his appearance, but from his voice, crying for help as he lay on the street, bleeding out," he said, choking back tears.
Advocates Condemn Use of Force
Roman Polares, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, criticized the use of fatal force. "It is un-American to use a fatal force against a human being, then lock away the evidence," he told the press conference. "For too long, we have watched an open season declared on Latinos, and communities of color, under the guise of public safety."
Official Investigations Announced
ICE stated on Tuesday that its parent agency, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, would lead an investigation into the shooting, while the FBI would investigate the potential assault on a law enforcement officer. However, many in Houston expressed skepticism about the impartiality of a federal probe. Houston City Council member Alejandra Salinas wrote in an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle on Wednesday, "I am calling for an immediate and impartial investigation, with all available video and findings released as soon as possible."
