Witness contradicts ICE account in fatal shooting of Mexican migrant

A witness has contradicted the official account of a fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, asserting that the agents did not identify themselves until after the incident. Víctor Salgado claims that while his brother, Lorenzo Salgado, was bleeding from a gunshot wound, he was on the ground, handcuffed, and pleading with agents for medical assistance. Medical help reportedly took nearly 30 minutes to arrive, and Lorenzo later died from his injuries at a Houston hospital.

Víctor Salgado and two other men who were in Lorenzo's truck during the encounter are currently detained at an immigration facility. Ruby Powers, the attorney representing Víctor, questioned the government's decision to keep him detained, arguing his testimony is crucial for investigations into the incident. "If they really cared about justice, why are they detaining one of the few direct witnesses to what happened?" Powers asked, noting she was contacted by the Mexican consulate in Houston to assist with Víctor's immigration case.

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If they really cared about justice, why are they detaining one of the few direct witnesses to what happened?

According to Víctor's account, relayed through his lawyer, Lorenzo picked up his brother and two colleagues for work on the day of the incident. During their drive, unmarked vehicles began following them. Lorenzo, unaware of who was pursuing them, became nervous. After a chase, Lorenzo stopped the truck. An individual then exited one of the pursuing vehicles, approached the truck, shouted "Stop!", and fired through the open window.

"They didn't know who was chasing them or what was happening," Powers stated. Víctor only realized they were dealing with migration agents when he was being taken out of the truck and handcuffed, noticing an ICE identification around an agent's neck. This testimony directly conflicts with the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) statement, which claims Lorenzo attempted to ram one of the vehicles. The accounts of Víctor and the other two witnesses, as presented by their lawyer Hugo Balderas-Ibarra, align in contradicting the government's version.

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They didn't know who were chasing them or what was happening.