HOUSTON — A crowd of hundreds gathered at the steps of Houston City Hall on Saturday evening, wielding umbrellas and signs as they reiterated demands for accountability regarding the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. They called for answers about the incident and the release of three men who witnessed the shooting and are currently in immigration detention.
“I would like to see a clear understanding of what happened, of why they believed they had the right to do that to an individual, and for them to be held accountable,” stated Charles Torres, a 48-year-old resident of Houston, addressing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The 52-year-old Salgado Araujo was shot by an ICE agent on Tuesday after agents in unmarked vehicles stopped him and three others on their way to work in North Houston. The available footage of the incident is limited, primarily consisting of fragmented videos from nearby businesses, as the agents were not equipped with body cameras.
The protest, located about eight miles from the site of the shooting, marked one of the first significant demonstrations demanding accountability from ICE since Salgado Araujo’s death. The event was organized shortly after a vigil held at the Service Employees International Union’s office in Houston, where community members, including local leaders and Salgado Araujo’s son, gathered to remember him. More demonstrations are anticipated across Texas in the coming week.
“I know we have been chanting for several days now, but we need to prepare ourselves to chant for much longer,” remarked Vivek Venkatraman, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s Houston chapter, which organized Saturday’s protest.
In response to growing criticism, Houston Mayor John Whitmire pledged on Friday to initiate a local investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. This came after he initially claimed that the city had no jurisdiction to conduct such an inquiry.
Venkatraman emphasized the importance of ensuring the investigation is conducted fairly and thoroughly. “We will be back here on Tuesday, inside and outside City Hall, demanding justice for Lorenzo,” he declared, referencing a planned demonstration coinciding with the Houston City Council’s public comment session.
Many participants at the protest urged the crowd to vote out Republican officials, including Governor Greg Abbott, who has yet to make a public statement regarding the shooting.
According to U.S. Representative Sylvia R. Garcia, D-Houston, ICE agents were not targeting Salgado Araujo at the time of the shooting; instead, they were searching for another individual. While the agents were not using body cameras, they were seen wearing bulletproof vests in footage obtained from surrounding businesses.
An ICE spokesperson claimed that agents fired their weapons because Salgado Araujo “weaponized his vehicle” in an attempt to run over an officer, prompting the agent to act in self-defense. However, the three men who were in the vehicle with Salgado Araujo dispute this account, stating that law enforcement was not directly in the path of the van and were positioned to the side.
“Why are they hiding the evidence?” questioned Houston state Representative Christina Morales, leading the crowd in a chant: “Release the footage, free the witnesses, independent investigation, not ICE investigating ICE.”
As 24-year-old Angie Baker wandered through the crowd, she reflected on the inhumane treatment faced by migrants. She expressed concern about the lengthy and complicated process for individuals like Salgado Araujo, who had been trying to obtain a work permit. “Just because someone isn’t a quote unquote legal citizen, that doesn’t mean that they’re not someone who should be protected or cared for,” Baker remarked, having traveled from Humble to show her support. “We’re all human beings.”
Saturday’s gathering was not solely a protest; it served as a tribute to Salgado Araujo, a man whose name was largely unknown a week prior but has since united much of Houston’s Latino community. Participants marched from City Hall to the federal detention center located about a mile away, waving Mexican flags, wearing Mexican soccer jerseys, and playing Tejano music to honor their heritage.
During a moment of silence for Salgado Araujo, many attendees sang along to “Amor Eterno” by Rocío Dúrcal, holding each other closely as the poignant lyrics played. The crowd resonated with the line “Yo he sufrido tanto por tu ausencia” — “I have suffered so much because of your absence.”
