Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican immigrant, was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Tuesday morning in Houston. Federal officials said the shooting happened during a targeted enforcement operation, while his family and advocates are demanding an independent investigation.
The shooting took place around 6:50 a.m. near Wayside Drive and Canal Street, according to local reports. Salgado Araujo was taken to Ben Taub Hospital, where he later died.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo Shooting Under Investigation
ICE said agents were trying to stop Salgado Araujo’s vehicle as part of an immigration enforcement operation. The agency alleged that he tried to evade arrest, rammed an ICE vehicle and attempted to run over an agent.
ICE said the agent fired in self-defense. The agency has not publicly released body camera footage, surveillance video or other evidence supporting its account.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General are investigating the shooting, according to multiple reports.
Salgado Araujo’s family disputes the government’s description. His relatives said he was on his way to work with others when the encounter happened.
Family Says He Was Going To Work
At a Houston news conference, Salgado Araujo’s son, Ronaldo Salgado, described his father as a hardworking family man. He said his father had lived in the United States for more than 30 years and worked in construction.
The family said Salgado Araujo was in the process of obtaining a work permit. Relatives also said they learned about his death through news reports, not from federal or local officials.
“He did not deserve to die,” Ronaldo Salgado said, according to The Guardian.
Family members said others who were with Salgado Araujo were detained during the operation. Advocates said relatives were still seeking information about them.
Advocates Call For Transparency
The League of United Latin American Citizens, known as LULAC, called for a full, independent and transparent investigation. The group urged officials to preserve body camera footage, surveillance video, radio communications and witness statements.
Civil rights groups also raised questions about the use of deadly force during immigration operations. They said the public should not have to rely only on an initial agency statement.
U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, whose district includes parts of Houston, also called for a full review of the shooting. Local officials said the incident has created fear in immigrant communities across the city.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said the city is monitoring the case. However, he said there would not be a city-led investigation while a federal investigation is underway.
Broader Concerns Over ICE Operations
The shooting comes during a period of heightened immigration enforcement across the country. Federal immigration agents have faced scrutiny in other deadly or disputed encounters.
Advocates said the Houston case should be examined with special care because of the stakes involved. A man died, several people were reportedly detained and the government’s account has not yet been tested by independent evidence.
For Salgado Araujo’s family, the demand is direct. They want to know what happened before the shot was fired, who was involved and why deadly force was used.
As the federal investigation continues, Houston community leaders are calling for transparency. The case has become a painful reminder that immigration enforcement decisions can carry life-or-death consequences for local families.