HOUSTON — The family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo on Wednesday called for an independent investigation into his fatal shooting by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, as his son described him as a hardworking father who had lived in the United States for more than 30 years.
At a news conference, Ronaldo Salgado said his father devoted his life to supporting his family and did not deserve to die.
“He was a hard-working family man who never wanted his name to be known by anyone outside of his family,” Salgado said. “He wanted nothing else in life but to provide for his wife and see his sons become great people.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, said an ICE officer shot Araujo at about 6:50 a.m. Tuesday during a targeted enforcement operation in Houston’s East End.
DHS identified Araujo as a Mexican national without legal status in the United States. The agency said Araujo attempted to evade arrest, rammed an ICE vehicle and tried to strike an ICE officer with his vehicle. The officer then fired in self-defense, according to DHS.
The shooting has prompted calls for independent investigations from Araujo’s family, local elected officials and civil rights organizations.
Salgado said his father had lived in the United States for more than three decades and had begun the process of obtaining legal immigration status through a work permit.
“He dedicated his life in the United States to giving his family the American dream,” Salgado said. “We dotted every I, crossed every T, filled every document, attended every appointment.”
U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee joined Araujo’s family and several state and local officials at the news conference.
“Somebody being killed by law enforcement is a big deal,” Menefee said. “We are a city of undocumented immigrants. They are our neighbors. They are our family. They are business owners, and they deserve to be treated with humanity and with dignity.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General is leading the investigation into the shooting, while the FBI’s Houston Field Office is investigating the potential assault on a federal law enforcement officer.
Salgado said three other men were in the vehicle with his father when the shooting occurred. He said authorities detained the men after the incident and expressed hope they would provide statements about what happened.
ICE had not identified the three men as of Wednesday afternoon and did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Salgado said his father helped support him and his two brothers through college and wanted to be remembered for his commitment to his family.
“My father was a simple man, a family man,” Salgado said. “That’s how I want the world to know my father.”
