Houston Mayor Promises Independent Probe into Mexican Migrant's Death by ICE Agent

Houston Mayor John Whitmire has promised an "independent and transparent" investigation into the death of Mexican migrant Lorenzo Salgado, who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. Speaking alongside local officials, Whitmire stated that authorities "will use all their resources" for the inquiry, acknowledging the "difficult" task due to federal control over all evidence.

Salgado, 52, died in Houston's historically Latino neighborhood of Magnolia Park. He was traveling to work with his brother and two colleagues when ICE agents intercepted their van. According to the mayor, the FBI possesses all evidence, including the van, passengers, and the victim's body, and is "strictly controlling" this material.

Whitmire's commitment marks a shift from the city's initial stance of refusing an investigation, citing the inability to conduct parallel inquiries with the federal government. Legislators, activists, and Salgado's family had demanded an independent probe, expressing skepticism about the federal investigation led by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General and the FBI.

The Harris County District Attorney's office announced it would open its own investigation. Mayor Whitmire affirmed the city's cooperation, promising to provide prosecutors with all information gathered by the Houston Police Department. "ICE is a federal agency that was out of control this Tuesday," Whitmire stated, adding that "the Salgado family's life will never be the same."