A 52-year-old man from Houston, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent earlier this week, was not the intended target of the operation, according to U.S. Representative Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat from Houston. She has called for the release of any video footage related to the incident.
Garcia shared that during a phone conversation with acting ICE Director David Venturella, she was informed that ICE agents did not have body-worn cameras or dashboard cameras activated at the time of the shooting.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement explaining that a tip from an unnamed law enforcement agency prompted ICE agents to surveil a residence in Houston and subsequently monitor Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s van. The statement detailed that officers had observed two white vans at the location weeks before the incident and attempted to stop a van they believed was connected to their target just before the shooting occurred.
Garcia noted that the agents had an administrative warrant for someone other than Salgado Araujo or his brother, who was also in the vehicle at the time of the shooting. Reports indicate that ICE agents had warrants for two Guatemalan immigrants, while Salgado Araujo and his companions are from Mexico. It is important to note that an administrative warrant lacks the same legal authority as a criminal warrant, which requires approval from a judge.
As of Thursday afternoon, two of the three men detained were confirmed to be from Mexico and were being held at the Montgomery ICE Processing Center in Conroe.
The Mexican government has announced plans to initiate legal actions concerning the deaths of its citizens during ICE operations, which have now totaled 17 fatalities, according to Roberto Velasco Álvarez, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Among these, 14 occurred while individuals were in custody, and three happened during ICE operations.
The Mexican government has sent 11 inquiries to the U.S. government for clarification on each case and aims to strengthen human rights protections for Mexican nationals abroad following Salgado Araujo’s death. “This is currently the most pressing issue for the Foreign Ministry, and it will be a focal point in our discussions with the United States government,” Álvarez stated.
Garcia received a commitment from Venturella that all field officers would be equipped with body cameras by the end of the month. A DHS spokesperson confirmed that the officers involved in the shooting did not have body-worn cameras and attributed the delay in their distribution to Democrats. The spokesperson mentioned that following recent congressional funding, body cameras would be made available to all field offices within the next 60 days.
In a previous statement, ICE indicated that the attempt to stop Salgado Araujo’s vehicle was part of a “targeted enforcement” operation. They claimed that Salgado Araujo attempted to use his vehicle to run over an ICE officer, prompting the agent to fire in self-defense. However, DHS has not clarified whether Salgado Araujo was the actual target or if the intended target was someone else in the van he was driving.
Family members of Salgado Araujo have stated that he was on his way to work with his brother and two coworkers when he was killed early Tuesday morning. The identity of the law enforcement agency that provided the tip to ICE remains unclear, as the Houston Police Department has stated it was not involved in the shooting and directed inquiries to Homeland Security. The Texas Department of Public Safety has not responded to requests for comment.
During the Trump administration, both Houston and state police collaborated with ICE to identify and apprehend undocumented immigrants. The administration had encouraged local law enforcement across the nation to assist ICE in locating and detaining undocumented individuals.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office, South Houston Police Department, and Harris County Constable’s Precinct 6 did not respond immediately to inquiries regarding whether they had communicated the tip to ICE.
The incident has sparked national outrage, with Democratic leaders and advocates in Houston and beyond demanding an independent investigation. Many have expressed skepticism about the Trump administration’s ability to provide a trustworthy account of the events, given past instances where narratives surrounding fatal shootings by immigration agents were later challenged by evidence.
The FBI is currently investigating the claim made by DHS that the ICE agent was assaulted, while the Homeland Security Office of Inspector General is leading its own investigation into the shooting, without disclosing whether these inquiries are criminal or administrative in nature.
Garcia mentioned that ICE has agreed to respond to a demand letter she and other Democratic lawmakers issued, but no timeline has been provided for the completion of the Inspector General’s investigation. Additionally, the Harris County District Attorney’s office has launched its own inquiry into the shooting.
Contributions to this report were made by Berenice Garcia, Ayden Runnels, Colleen DeGuzman, and Lomi Kriel.
