A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national and Houston resident, as he drove his construction crew to a job site. The shooting occurred in a heavily Hispanic neighborhood and has set off protests in Texas’ largest city, with calls from Democrats and Salgado Araujo’s family for an independent investigation.

Investigation and Response

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, stated that federal officers were looking for someone they had targeted weeks before when they attempted to stop Salgado Araujo’s vehicle. According to DHS, Salgado Araujo rammed an ICE vehicle, and a federal officer fired a weapon in self-defense. Salgado Araujo’s family said he had nearly finished the long process of obtaining legal status in the U.S. after living in the country for 35 years.

The incident is at least the eighth death during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement campaign. No immigration officers have been charged in the deaths, and video footage in several previous shootings contradicts the accounts of federal officers. The Harris County District Attorney’s office is pursuing investigative avenues and will conduct a review of any information collected.

International Reaction

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said it is time to escalate Mexico’s complaints beyond diplomatic channels after the killing of Salgado Araujo. Mexico will request that criminal charges be filed in U.S. courts over the alleged killing of three Mexicans during ICE operations and the deaths of another 14 in ICE custody.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.