Latina Civic Action demands independent investigation after ICE fatally shoots Houston father during traffic stop

HOUSTON — Latina Civic Action is demanding an independent investigation into the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a father of three killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during a July 7 traffic stop. New details from federal officials indicate Salgado Araujo may not have been the intended target of the operation.

What Happened to Lorenzo Salgado Araujo?

A Department of Homeland Security official told ABC News that Salgado Araujo “resembled the target” of the enforcement action. ICE said officers attempted to stop his vehicle around 6:50 a.m. as part of a planned operation. The Harris County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide caused by a “penetrating gunshot wound of the torso.”

ICE said Salgado Araujo ignored verbal commands and “weaponized his vehicle,” alleging he tried to run over an officer. ICE says the officer fired “in self‑defense.” No body‑camera footage exists, because DHS says the officers involved had not been issued cameras due to two partial government shutdowns.

DHS says the shooting remains under investigation by its Office of Inspector General.

Family Says He Was Applying for Legal Status

Salgado Araujo lived in the United States for nearly 35 years. His son, Ronaldo Salgado, told ABC News his father focused on providing for his family and getting his three sons through school. He began the process of applying for a work permit last year.

Three men in the van, including Salgado Araujo’s brother, were detained after the shooting. Texas members of Congress have asked DHS and ICE for an update on their status, ABC News reported.

Advocates Say Immigrant Families Fear Routine Encounters

In a press release, the New Jersey civil rights organization says there needs to more be transparency into Araujo’s death.

Patricia Campos‑Medina, president of Latina Civic Action, said the shooting reflects a growing fear among immigrant families.

“Families across this country are living in fear that a routine encounter, a traffic stop, or a knock at the door could end in death,” she said. “Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was a husband, a father, and an employer. He deserved better.”

She said the lack of video mirrors other fatal encounters involving federal immigration agents, including the January killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis and the shooting of Alex Pretti days later. In both cases, initial government accounts were later challenged.

New Jersey Leaders Cite State Protections

Maria del Cid, a Latina Civic Action board member, said the killing underscores why New Jersey limits state and local involvement in federal civil immigration enforcement.

“Incidents like this show why these protections matter,” she said. “ICE must be held to a standard of transparency equal to any other law enforcement agency.”

New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Directive restricts state resources from supporting federal civil immigration enforcement and affirms due‑process protections for all residents.

Protests and International Response

The shooting sparked protests in Houston. Hundreds marched through the neighborhood where the incident occurred, demanding answers and accountability.

According to ABC News, Mexican officials say they plan to file criminal complaints over the deaths of Mexican nationals during U.S. immigration operations. Mexico’s foreign affairs secretary, Roberto Velasco, called Salgado Araujo’s death a “painful situation” and said the president instructed the agency to begin legal action to “protect the human rights of Mexicans in the United States.”

Latina Civic Action Calls for Accountability and Legal Support

Latina Civic Action says it will continue pushing for transparency and due process for immigrant families nationwide. The group also supports the Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative, which provides legal representation to people in immigration detention.

A GoFundMe created by LULAC Institute on behalf of the Araujo family is raising funds to assist rising cost as they deal with their unimaginable loss.

At the time of this report, more than $300k has been raised.

Araujo is survived by his wife of 35 years and three sons.