The Texas Democratic Party called for an “independent and transparent” investigation into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who fatally shot an illegal immigrant in Houston.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican man, died on Tuesday after he allegedly rammed his vehicle into an ICE officer who subsequently fired gunshots in self-defense. Araujo refused to follow commands during the traffic stop before he weaponized the vehicle, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
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The DHS Office of Inspector General is investigating the ICE-involved shooting, but Texas Democrats don’t believe the Trump administration will investigate the matter fairly.
“Nobody is defending violent criminals or suggesting that law enforcement should not protect themselves when they face a genuine threat,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder said. “But we’ve already seen this movie in Minneapolis so we know the public cannot simply be asked to accept an official version of events without transparency.”
In Minnesota earlier this year, U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed by federal immigration officers, sparking a nationwide outcry from Democratic lawmakers and critics of the Trump administration. Similar high-profile incidents involving illegal immigrants, including Tuesday’s episode, have since taken place.
“Texas families deserve safe communities and a fair immigration system,” Scudder added. “We can enforce our laws while still respecting constitutional rights, due process, and basic human dignity. Those values are not mutually exclusive.”
Calls for an independent investigation were repeated by Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) and Araujo’s family at a Wednesday press conference.
“We are demanding a transparent and independent investigation and ICE out of our neighborhoods now,” Garcia posted on X. “We cannot allow the facts and evidence to be buried.”
The victim’s adult son also spoke during the news conference, denouncing federal law enforcement’s role in his father’s death.
“He did not deserve to die,” Ronaldo Salgado told reporters. “He did not deserve to be reduced to a headline of ‘Mexican man shot and killed by ICE.’ He deserved to live a quiet life as Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a husband, a father, and a job creator for dozens of men who also wanted the American dream.”
Araujo, a construction worker, was driving a van when the incident unfolded. Three of his co-workers, including Salgado’s uncle, were in the van and were arrested by ICE.
“All three men were rounded up,” the son said. “We have not heard from them, but I hope they are able to provide their own statements to prove that my father feared for his life as unmarked cars followed my dad, who only wanted to get back to work and back to us.”
ICE FATALLY SHOOTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT IN HOUSTON AFTER ALLEGED VEHICLE RAMMING
Araujo was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died from gunshot wounds to the abdomen, DHS said in a statement on Tuesday. He was a 35-year Houston resident with no criminal record, Garcia said.
The FBI’s field office in Houston is investigating the Mexican national’s possible assault on a federal officer. The Houston Police Department is not involved in any investigation related to the shooting. DHS promised to provide further updates once they become available.
