The family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant fatally shot by a federal immigration agent in Texas, is demanding an independent investigation into his killing, citing a lack of transparency from federal officials.
Family Speaks Out
During a press conference led by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) on Wednesday in Houston, Ronaldo Salgado, the victim's son, stated: "He did not deserve to die." Salgado, 52, was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official on Tuesday morning while driving to work at a construction site. His family described him as a "hardworking family man" who had lived in the US for more than 30 years and was in the process of obtaining a work permit.
Lack of Notification
The family learned of Salgado's death through news reports, not from ICE or local authorities. Ronaldo Salgado visited the shooting scene on Tuesday morning seeking answers but received no information from officials. Civil rights groups and elected officials have joined the call for an independent probe, questioning the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) account of the incident.
Conflicting Accounts
According to a DHS statement, ICE officials were conducting a "targeted enforcement operation" in Houston. The department alleged that Salgado "weaponized his vehicle" to run over an ICE officer, prompting the agent to fire in self-defense. DHS stated that its inspector general's office and the FBI are investigating. However, critics note that DHS has a history of making false or misleading statements in similar cases, such as the January shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis, where video evidence contradicted DHS claims.
Roman Palomares, national president of LULAC, criticized ICE and DHS during the press conference: "We do not believe you, you have not earned that trust. ICE has not earned that trust from the American people."
Witnesses Arrested
Three co-workers who were in the van with Salgado were arrested by ICE, according to social media video and Ronaldo Salgado. One of them is Ronaldo's uncle. "All three men were rounded up," Ronaldo 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."
Victim's Background
Salgado was a longtime construction worker in Texas, known for his daily routine of picking up co-workers early in the morning to head to job sites. "He wanted nothing else in life but to provide for his wife and see his sons become great people," his son said. The events of Tuesday have been "vividly playing in my head over and over again," he added.
Calls for Independent Investigation
Congressional Representative Sylvia Garcia has called for an independent investigation, stating: "All available footage, communications, and other evidence should be preserved and reviewed as part of a full and impartial investigation. The victim's family, my constituents, and the entire community deserve a complete and transparent accounting of what happened."
Pattern of Shootings
Federal immigration officials have been involved in at least 23 shootings since January 2025. In addition to Good, agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in January. Local Minnesota authorities investigating Pretti's shooting said the FBI refused to share evidence. In March 2025, an ICE official shot and killed a 23-year-old US citizen, Ruben Ray Martinez, in Texas; his death was not made public for nearly a year, and congressional Democrats said DHS "falsely" claimed Martinez struck a federal agent with his vehicle.
