Man fatally shot by ICE mourned at vigil: ‘dedicated to the American dream’

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old builder who worked tirelessly for decades to build a life for his family in Houston, was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on Tuesday. Salgado Araujo was reportedly taking his construction crew to a job site when federal agents in unmarked vehicles pursued him.

His oldest son, Ronaldo Salgado, described his father as a dedicated worker who rose before dawn for 35 years, building hundreds of houses and supporting his family, including sending three sons to college. Salgado Araujo was reportedly close to obtaining legal status in the U.S.

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We are never going to forget that his blood is on Donald Trump’s hands.

Four Democratic members of Congress representing the Houston area have demanded an independent investigation into the shooting. At a vigil on Saturday, they criticized the incident and ICE's actions. "We are never going to forget that his blood is on Donald Trump’s hands," said U.S. Representative Christian Menefee. "We are not at war. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was not a casualty. He was a human being who was murdered by our government."

The Department of Homeland Security stated that an ICE officer fired at Salgado Araujo's van in self-defense after he allegedly rammed an ICE vehicle. However, they have provided no evidence to support this claim. According to Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, who cited a briefing from ICE's acting director, federal agents were initially looking for a different individual when they attempted to stop Salgado Araujo.

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We are not at war. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was not a casualty. He was a human being who was murdered by our government.

Lawyers representing the three men who were in the van with Salgado Araujo said he was shot through a passenger window, and the ICE officer was not in front of the vehicle or in danger. Salgado Araujo's family also disputes the ICE account, stating that lawyers had advised him on how to act if immigration agents stopped him. "He knew what to do," Ronaldo Salgado told reporters. "He knew not to sign anything. He knew that the first phone call he should make should be either to myself or to my mom."

His family believes Salgado Araujo may have been scared by the unmarked vehicles, fearing a robbery attempt. His death marks the 10th fatal shooting by federal immigration officials in the U.S. since the current Trump administration took office.

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He knew what to do. He knew not to sign anything. He knew that the first phone call he should make should be either to myself or to my mom. So that way we can get the process started of getting him out.