Texas officials confirmed on July 25 that testing showed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was not carrying drugs in his vehicle when he was shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents earlier this month. This finding contradicts an initial assessment by the FBI that suggested the presence of drugs in Araujo's work van.
Araujo was shot in Houston on July 7 while driving a cargo van. The Trump administration had raised concerns about potential methamphetamine in the vehicle. However, Araujo's family and local authorities argued that the substance in question was a homemade electrolyte mix prepared by his wife for his work crew.
The Harris County District Attorney's office stated that the substance tested negative for narcotics and informed Araujo's family of the results. Araujo, a Mexican citizen who had lived in the Houston area for about 30 years, was not a legal resident at the time of his death but was reportedly close to obtaining legal status.
The Department of Homeland Security indicated that Araujo was not the target of their operation but was stopped due to driving a vehicle matching the description of one they were monitoring. Officials claimed Araujo failed to stop when instructed, which led to the shooting. The FBI had previously cited probable cause for drug-related charges based on their observations of the vehicle after the incident, but the DHS did not confirm that ICE agents were aware of any potential drugs at the time of the shooting. Araujo's family attorney stated that the substance was a mixture of granulated salt, lemon, and water, used to help outdoor workers cope with the Texas heat.