A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed a Mexican national in Houston, Texas. The incident on Tuesday occurred during what federal immigration officers described as a "targeted enforcement operation," and they said Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was attempting to flee arrest.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed that Salgado Araujo failed to comply with orders to stop, struck an ICE vehicle, and "used his vehicle as a weapon by trying to run over an ICE law enforcement officer."
However, Salgado Araujo's son, Ronaldo Salgado, said his father was shot while looking for work in the area. Security camera footage reviewed by Reuters news agency showed what appeared to be the aftermath, with a person lying on the ground next to a white van, surrounded by officers.
Calls for independent investigation
Democratic Representative Sylvia Garcia said that ICE's claims regarding the incident should be examined through an independent and thorough investigation. "All available footage, communication records, and other evidence should be preserved and examined as part of a complete and impartial investigation," Garcia said.
Juan Proano, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), also stressed that they do not trust the DHS's statements, saying, "An independent investigation must be conducted, and all videos should be released."
Increasing fatal incidents under Trump
Since President Donald Trump intensified immigration enforcement, there have been at least six fatal shootings involving federal immigration officers. In January, 37-year-old US citizen Renee Good was shot in the head and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. DHS claimed Good tried to assault the officer with her vehicle, but local authorities and witnesses said she was simply trying to drive away.
The backlash following Good's death and similar incidents led ICE to scale back some controversial operations. Despite this, according to Reuters, ICE arrests nationwide have recently increased again, with about 2,000 immigrants taken into custody per day last week.
