ICE Fatally Shoots Houston Man Who Was Close to Work Permit
ICE agents fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, a Houston construction worker, while he was driving his crew to a job site on Tuesday. Federal agents were looking for someone else entirely, according to Democratic Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, who cited a briefing from ICE's acting director. Salgado Araujo was weeks away from obtaining legal status — and his family says he knew exactly what to do if immigration agents stopped him.
Salgado Araujo had built hundreds of homes across Houston over 35 years. He left before dawn every day, picked up his crew, and returned home in the evening to his wife and three sons — all of whom went to college. His oldest son, Ronaldo, is now a teacher. One brother is an engineer. Another is studying engineering. On Tuesday morning, that routine ended when ICE agents driving unmarked vehicles pursued his white van and an officer opened fire.
The Department of Homeland Security says an ICE officer fired in self-defense after Salgado Araujo rammed an ICE vehicle. DHS has provided no evidence to support that account. Three men riding in the van told their lawyer that Salgado Araujo was shot through a passenger window — and that the officer who fired was not standing in front of the van or in any danger. Ronaldo Salgado told reporters his father may have thought he was being followed by criminals trying to steal his van or tools, not by federal agents.
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His death is the 10th fatal shooting by federal immigration officials since the second Trump administration took office, according to a Guardian review of public reports. Four Democratic members of Congress who represent Houston attended a vigil on July 11 and called for an independent investigation. "We are never going to forget that his blood is on Donald Trump's hands," said US Representative Christian Menefee. Salgado Araujo's family says lawyers had already been helping him apply for a work permit (Form I-765, the Employment Authorization Document) and that he was close to obtaining legal status when he was killed.
What to do if ICE agents stop you
- Stay calm and do not run. Sudden movements or driving away can escalate a stop dangerously. Pull over safely if agents signal you in a vehicle.
- You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status. Say clearly: "I am exercising my right to remain silent."
- Do not sign anything without speaking to a lawyer first. Signing a document can waive important legal rights, including the right to an immigration court hearing.
- Call a lawyer or a trusted family member immediately. If you are detained, ask for an attorney right away. Keep an immigration lawyer's phone number written down — not just saved in a phone that agents may take.
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If ICE stops you in a vehicle or on the street, you have Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable seizure — agents generally need a judicial warrant signed by a judge, not just an administrative immigration warrant, to enter your home or compel you to stop. If you are detained, invoke your right to remain silent immediately and ask for an attorney before any questioning. The fact that someone is in the process of applying for legal status does not protect them from enforcement, but it is a critical factor your attorney can use in removal proceedings — so consult an immigration lawyer before any encounter escalates.