A Mexican man who died after being shot by immigration agents in Houston was not the intended target of the operation, according to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52 year old construction worker, was stopped by ICE agents on Tuesday morning while he was driving to work. He died later from his injuries after the shooting.
DHS Explains Traffic Stop That Led to Shooting
DHS said agents were searching for another person during a targeted immigration operation. Officials stated that officers noticed a white van with someone who looked similar to the person they were trying to find.
The agency said agents attempted to stop the vehicle because they believed it was connected to their operation. DHS also claimed that Salgado tried to avoid the stop and hit an ICE vehicle, leading an officer to fire in self defense.
However, officials have not released any body camera footage or video evidence from the incident. The agents involved in the shooting were not wearing body cameras at the time.
Family Says Salgado Had No Criminal Record
Salgado’s family said he had lived and worked in the Houston area for around three decades. They described him as a hardworking person who supported his family through construction work.
According to his relatives, Salgado had no criminal record and was close to receiving legal permission to work in the US. They said he was driving three coworkers to a job site when the incident happened.
Community Demands Independent Investigation
The shooting has created anger and concern among many people in Houston. Community members held protests following Salgado’s death and called for more transparency in the investigation.
Several Democratic members of Congress have also requested an independent review of the incident. They questioned the use of deadly force and asked authorities to provide more information about what happened during the traffic stop.
ICE Officers Facing Questions Over Use of Force
DHS said some ICE officers now use body cameras, and the agency plans to provide cameras to more officers soon. The lack of video evidence has increased calls for a detailed investigation into the shooting.
The death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo has raised new concerns about immigration enforcement practices and the use of force during operations across the United States.
