A 52‑year‑old man from Mexico was killed by immigration agents at a traffic stop in Houston on Tuesday, and authorities say he was not the intended target.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was driving his vehicle with three co‑workers to a construction site when officers attempted a stop. DHS claims the officer shot in self‑defence after seeing a white van that matched a target seen in surveillance an earlier week.
The victims’ family and the driver’s co‑workers say the scenario described by DHS does not match what occurred. They dispute that any officer stood in front of the van or placed themselves in danger.
The incident happened in a city that has seen other deadly federal enforcement actions and has now sparked public protests. Four Democratic members of Congress have requested an independent inquiry into the shooting.
The Office of Inspector General for DHS is already investigating, and the FBI’s Houston field office has begun its own probe. Houston police officials have pledged to support the investigation.
Mexico has declared it will file criminal complaints over deaths of Mexican nationals in ICE custody. Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said 14 Mexicans have died while held by U.S. immigration authorities or during arrests.
At least eight people have died during the Trump administration’s immigration operations, yet no officers have been charged.
See the recorded video of the events and community response here.
