Family Calls for Independent Investigation After ICE Officer Shoots Man in Houston

HOUSTON (AP) — Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national, was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Houston while driving a crew to a homebuilding site. His family and Texas Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia stated that Salgado Araujo had no criminal convictions and was working toward securing legal status in the U.S. The incident occurred during an immigration enforcement operation, according to federal officials, who claimed Salgado Araujo attempted to ram an officer's vehicle. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the officer acted in self-defense. Salgado Araujo was shot in the abdomen and later died at a hospital. His family is demanding an independent investigation, citing a lack of trust in ICE's handling of the case. Civil rights groups have echoed this sentiment, questioning the credibility of ICE's statements and urging the release of all evidence related to the shooting. The incident marks at least the eighth fatality involving federal immigration officers since the start of the Trump administration's immigration policies. Salgado Araujo's family has expressed their grief and called for transparency in the investigation.