Key facts
- Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Houston.
- Federal agents pursued Salgado Araujo in unmarked vehicles before the shooting.
- ICE claims self-defense after Salgado Araujo rammed an ICE vehicle.
- Family and witnesses dispute the official account of the shooting.
- Salgado Araujo was reportedly close to obtaining legal status.
- Democratic members of Congress are calling for an independent investigation.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old immigrant builder who had spent 35 years constructing homes in Houston, was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on Tuesday. The incident occurred after federal agents in unmarked vehicles pursued Salgado Araujo as he was driving his construction crew to a job site.
ICE has stated that an officer fired in self-defense after Salgado Araujo rammed an ICE vehicle. However, this account has been disputed by the three men Salgado Araujo was transporting, who claim he was shot through a passenger window and the ICE officer was not in danger. Salgado Araujo's family also contests the official narrative, noting he was close to obtaining legal status and was being assisted with a work permit application.
His son, Ronaldo Salgado, believes his father may have been scared by the unmarked vehicles, fearing a robbery. The shooting has drawn strong reactions from Houston leaders and renewed scrutiny of ICE's practices under Donald Trump's immigration policies. Four Democratic members of Congress representing the Houston area have called for an independent investigation into the incident. One representative stated that "his blood is on Donald Trump’s hands," emphasizing that Salgado Araujo was a human being, not a casualty.
This incident marks the 10th fatal shooting by federal immigration officials in the U.S. since the current Trump administration took office. Salgado Araujo, who entered the U.S. over 30 years ago, was remembered by friends and neighbors as a dedicated hard worker who prioritized his family and their pursuit of the American dream. His wife is reportedly inconsolable, and his family vows to continue fighting for justice.