SHOCKING ICE OPERATION ENDS IN TRAGEDY… – A Mexican national was fatally sh0t during an ICE operation in Houston, sparking renewed concerns over the use of force during immigration enforcement.
Mexican national shot dead by ICE officers during operation in Houston
‘This is not an isolated event across the nation.’
A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot a Mexican national in Houston during an attempted traffic stop to conduct an immigration arrest, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.
The agency said ICE officers were trying to arrest Lorenzo Salgado Araujo — who it said is not authorised to be in the US — about 6.50am on Tuesday.
DHS accused the man of trying to evade arrest.
“From information we are receiving, he rammed an ICE law enforcement vehicle, refused to follow multiple verbal commands, and weaponised his vehicle,” DHS said.
An ICE officer fired his weapon “in self-defence”, striking the driver, according to the agency.
DHS said Salgado Araujo was taken to hospital, where he died.
FBI officials said the agency sent an evidence response team from its Houston field office to the scene but clarified it is investigating a potential assault on a federal officer.
It is not investigating the shooting, the agency said.
According to the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) — an immigrant advocacy group which has been in touch with the victim’s family — Salgado Araujo was driving around the historically Latino neighborhood of Magnolia Park looking for day labourers when he was shot and killed.
One of his sons witnessed his death, and several witnesses took photos and videos of the incident, according to LULAC Adelante PAC chairman Domingo Garcia.
Salgado Araujo was applying for legal citizenship status in the US, LULAC officials said.
It was not immediately clear how long he had been in the country.
LULAC called for an independent investigation conducted by local officials and compared Tuesday’s fatal shooting incident to previous deaths associated with immigration enforcement, including that of Renee Good in Minneapolis.
“This is not an isolated event across the nation,” LULAC national president Roman Palomares said.
“We have seen a pattern of ICE involvement in shootings and excessive use of force. Each time a family is left without answers, and a community is left in fear.”
Houston police have said they are not involved, and the mayor’s office referred all questions to Homeland Security.
“The federal government handed us a story about Renee Good, and the story fell apart moments after the video was released,” LULAC CEO Juan Proano said.
“Today, in Houston, we’re being handed the same story about Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in almost the same exact words.
“Prove it.”
