SUGAR LAND — Organizers of a new League of United Latin American Citizens chapter in Fort Bend County said the fatal shooting of a Mexican immigrant during an ICE operation in neighboring Harris County accelerated their plans to organize, with the group focusing on immigration advocacy, civic engagement and scholarships for Hispanic students.
The Greater Fort Bend Area LULAC Council 22571 held its inaugural meeting Wednesday at a Sugar Land restaurant, bringing together community leaders, elected officials and political candidates from both parties.
LULAC Communications Director Chris Fernandez said the July 7 shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo pushed organizers to become more active.
“We’re having to take action, be active, because this event has forced us to be active,” Fernandez said.
Salgado Araujo, 52, was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Houston after federal agents stopped the work van he was driving. His family said he had lived in the United States for decades without legal immigration status.
The ICE agents involved did not wear body cameras. Passengers who were in the van disputed the federal government’s account that Salgado Araujo tried to run over an officer.
The new LULAC chapter plans to hold a public vigil for Salgado Araujo in August.
Chapter President JoAnne Gonzales said the group also wants ICE to provide greater transparency regarding use-of-force incidents and lethal shootings. She called for evidence to be made public and for reforms to address what the group described as constitutional compliance concerns.
Much of Wednesday’s meeting focused on education and scholarships. Organizers said they want to help more Hispanic students in Fort Bend County pursue higher education as the county’s Hispanic population continues to grow.
Democratic Texas House candidate Sandy Ibanez, who is challenging Republican state Rep. Gary Gates in November, presented information about college access among Hispanic students.
“Only one in five Latino students, Hispanic students are in college right now,” Ibanez said, calling increased college enrollment among Hispanic students a major goal.
Hispanic residents account for about one-fourth of Fort Bend County’s population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Ibanez said the new chapter can bring together residents from different political and cultural backgrounds.
“Having LULAC part of Fort Bend County is really important because not only does it bring Hispanic people together, but just like we saw today, it brings people from all backgrounds, all cultural backgrounds, ethnic backgrounds and political backgrounds,” she said.
Organizers said the chapter plans to continue its work on advocacy, education and civic engagement as it establishes its presence in the county.