HOUSTON — Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday evening in Houston’s Magnolia Park area after the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during an ICE enforcement operation Tuesday morning.
The protest moved along Canal Street as demonstrators chanted “ICE out of Houston” and left memorial tributes near where Araujo was killed. Candles, flowers, handwritten notes, and crosses surrounded the memorial as community members continued to pay tribute.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said protester and local artist Sarah Fisher. “It’s not the first… and now here. It’s unacceptable.”
Fisher created a portrait of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo that incorporated dry-cleaning identification stickers to spell “SOS” and “XOX,” which she said represent a cry for help and love. Other attendees also echoed calls for transparency and justice.
According to ICE, Araujo was an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who attempted to avoid arrest during a targeted enforcement operation. ICE said he tried to drive his van into an ICE agent, leading another agent to open fire in self-defense.
During a news conference with LULAC, Araujo’s son, Ronaldo Salgado, described his father as a hardworking family man who had lived in the U.S. for about 35 years and had spent decades helping build homes in the Houston area. Ronaldo Salgado also said his father was in the process of obtaining a work permit and called for an independent investigation into his death.
“He did not deserve to die,” Ronaldo Salgado said. “He did not deserve to be reduced to a headline…”
Many demonstrators said they felt the investigation had not been thorough. “They haven’t investigated nothing,” protester Roberto Del Toro said.
The protest drew several elected officials, including U.S. Reps. Al Green, Christian Menefee, and Sylvia Garcia, who joined calls for transparency. Houston Police Department officials said federal law limits local law enforcement’s authority to investigate federal agencies. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare also said the investigation is being handled by federal agencies, though county investigators were seen canvassing the area.
The report also noted newly released surveillance video appeared to show moments an ICE vehicle stopped the van driven by Araujo before the fatal shooting. As the investigation continued, people remained at the memorial into Wednesday night, leaving flowers and lighting candles while continuing to demand answers.
Published by Banx Network. This article is part of the Banx decentralized media programme, powered by the BXE token on the XRP Ledger.
