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Houston Prosecutors Seek Identity of Agent in Migrant's Death Amid Federal Non-Cooperation
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

Houston Prosecutors Seek Identity of Agent in Migrant's Death Amid Federal Non-Cooperation

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • Houston prosecutors are investigating the fatal shooting of Mexican migrant Lorenzo Salgado by an ICE agent.
  • Officials cite a lack of cooperation from the federal government, stating they still do not know the identity of the agents involved.
  • Witnesses and local authorities dispute the official account, suggesting Salgado was not the target and that the shooting occurred from the sides of the vehicle.

Houston prosecutors are expressing frustration over the federal government's lack of cooperation in the investigation into the fatal shooting of Mexican migrant Lorenzo Salgado by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. Sean Teare, the lead prosecutor, stated that nearly a week after Salgado's death, state officials still do not know the identities or whereabouts of the agents involved.

It is unacceptable

— Sean TeareThe prosecutor leading the investigation expressing frustration over the lack of federal cooperation.

"It is unacceptable," Teare declared at a press conference, emphasizing that the Harris County District Attorney's office has opened a parallel investigation to the one conducted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This independent probe was initiated following demands from activists, legislators, and Salgado's family.

Teare asserted that his office is pursuing all investigative avenues, including surveillance footage and witness accounts, to identify the agents. "We are very good at identifying individuals who do not want to be identified. I think it is incredible that in the year 2026 we are talking about federal agents who do not want to be identified, but that is what it is," he added.

It is incredible that in the year 2026 we are talking about federal agents who do not want to be identified, but that is what it is

— Sean TeareThe prosecutor highlighting the difficulty in identifying the agents involved in the shooting.

The official DHS account states that agents attempted to intercept Salgado's vehicle as part of an operation targeting an undocumented migrant. According to DHS, Salgado ignored officers' instructions, rammed his truck into an official vehicle, and attempted to run over an agent, prompting the agent to fire in self-defense. However, witnesses and local officials have presented conflicting information. Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia noted that neither Salgado nor his brother were the intended targets, based on her conversation with the acting ICE director. The three other men in Salgado's truck, who are currently detained, stated through their lawyer that Salgado did not attempt to run over any agents and that the shots entered the vehicle from the sides.

did not attempt to run over any agents and that the shots against the vehicle entered through the sides

— Hugo BalderasThe lawyer relaying the account of the witnesses in the vehicle.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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