Sons of immigrant killed by ICE in Texas share grief, demand accountability

The sons of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a man fatally shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a traffic stop, have demanded a transparent investigation into his death. Speaking at a hearing with Democratic members of Congress in Houston, Ronaldo Salgado, one of the sons, described the "Kafkaesque nightmare" his family has endured since learning of their father's killing via a Facebook post.

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He worked hard to protect and provide for our family … He taught us that good things come to those that work hard.

"He worked hard to protect and provide for our family," the sons stated in a pre-written message, emphasizing the values their father instilled. Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant who had lived in the U.S. for over 30 years without legal status, was not the intended target of the ICE operation. His killing sparked protests in Houston, with thousands taking to the streets to demand justice.

Local prosecutors face obstacles in their pursuit of information. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare reported that the Department of Homeland Security has ignored his requests for evidence, including the name of the officer who fired the fatal shot. ICE agents were not wearing body cameras during the incident, and witness accounts dispute the official claim that Salgado Araujo weaponized his vehicle against officers.

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I learned again from a Facebook post that our dad had been shot.

Democratic lawmakers have indicated plans to investigate ICE and pursue reforms if they regain control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections. Congressman Christian Menefee expressed a strong desire for the agency to be fundamentally rebuilt, stating it needs to be "torn down to the studs" to better recognize the "dignity of the people that it encounters."

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Not because I could see him, but because I could hear his voice on videos posted online crying for help.

This incident follows other recent fatal encounters involving ICE agents, including the shooting of Joan Sebastian Duran Guerrero in Maine and two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year, all of which have fueled nationwide outrage and protests.

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ICE needs to be 'torn down to the studs' and rebuilt as an agency that recognises the 'dignity of the people that it encounters'.