ICE Fatally Shoots Mexican Immigrant in Texas: What We Know

What happened in Houston

On Tuesday morning, ICE agents conducted what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called a "targeted enforcement operation" in Houston, Texas. During that operation, an ICE official shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. Salgado was driving a van with three co-workers on their way to a construction site. The DHS claimed Salgado "weaponized his vehicle" to run over an ICE officer, and that the officer fired in self-defense. Salgado's three co-workers — including his son Ronaldo's uncle — were arrested by ICE. As of the press conference on Wednesday, the family had not heard from any of the three men.

Salgado's family, including his wife and three sons, said he was a "hardworking family man" who had spent more than 30 years in the US and was in the process of getting his work permit (also called an Employment Authorization Document, or EAD). His son Ronaldo said his father left home early every morning to pick up co-workers and head to job sites. "He wanted nothing else in life but to provide for his wife and see his sons become great people," Ronaldo said at a press conference organized by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a civil rights organization.

Family and officials demand independent investigation

The DHS announced that its inspector general's office and the FBI are investigating the shooting. But Salgado's family, lawmakers, and civil rights groups are calling for a separate, local investigation. Houston Mayor John Whitmire said during a city council meeting that local officials do not have jurisdiction over federal law enforcement. He said he was pushing for a "transparent, independent investigation" by federal authorities. Congressional Representative Sylvia Garcia called for all footage, communications, and evidence to be preserved and reviewed. LULAC's national president, Roman Palomares, said directly: "ICE has not earned that trust from the American people."

The DHS's account of the shooting echoes statements the department made in other cases. In January, DHS claimed that Renee Good "weaponized her vehicle" against an ICE officer in Minneapolis — but video of that shooting later cast doubt on the department's version of events. In another Minneapolis case, an ICE officer who claimed self-defense after shooting into a man's home was later charged with assault and falsely reporting a crime. In March 2025, ICE shot and killed a 23-year-old US citizen named Ruben Ray Martinez in Texas; that death was not made public for nearly a year. Federal immigration officials have been involved in at least 23 shootings since January 2025. The FBI has also refused to share evidence with state officials in multiple prior cases.

What to do

• If you or a family member was present during an ICE operation, do not speak to federal agents without a lawyer. You have the right to remain silent.
• If a family member was arrested by ICE, contact an immigration lawyer as soon as possible to find out where they are being held and whether they qualify for a bond hearing (a court hearing where a judge decides if they can be released while their case continues).
• If you witnessed the shooting or have video footage, lawyers and civil rights organizations like LULAC recommend preserving all evidence and contacting a civil rights attorney before sharing it with federal authorities.
• If you are in the process of getting a work permit (EAD) or any other immigration benefit, document everything — keep copies of all applications, receipts, and correspondence in a safe place.

A full breakdown of this topic — in our guide “Bond Hearing: How to Get Released”.