Hundreds of protesters gathered at Houston City Hall, calling for transparency and accountability in the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent. The 52-year-old was killed on Tuesday after agents in unmarked vehicles stopped him and three others on their way to work in North Houston.
Protesters Demand Release of Witnesses
The protesters, many of whom were from the local Latino community, demanded that the three men who witnessed the shooting be released from immigration detention. The witnesses dispute ICE’s account of the events, saying that Salgado Araujo never attempted to ram the ICE officers with his van.
ICE agents were not wearing body cameras during the incident, and footage from local businesses is minimal. The protesters are calling for the release of any available footage and for an independent investigation into the shooting.
Community Comes Together to Honor Salgado Araujo
The protest was also a tribute to Salgado Araujo, a father of three who was trying to gain legal status. The community came together to honor his memory, waving Mexican flags and singing traditional songs.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire has vowed to launch a local investigation into the shooting, after initially saying that the city had no jurisdiction. Immigrant advocates are pushing for a thorough and fair investigation.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
