Four Houston-based U.S. Congress members issued a letter Thursday to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE demanding an “immediate, fully independent and transparent investigation” into the shooting death of a Mexican immigrant by a federal agent in Houston’s Magnolia Park neighborhood this week.
Members of the Congressional delegation — which includes Reps. Lizzie Fletcher, Sylvia Garcia, Al Green and Christian Menefee — also have questions about what prompted an ICE agent to open fire on Lorenzo Salgado Araujo while he was driving to work with his construction crew on the morning of July 7.
ICE officials have said that Araujo ignored verbal warnings and tried to run over a federal agent with his vehicle, but no video evidence has been produced to corroborate those statements.
The Congress members’ letter, addressed to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director David Venturella, points out that an unnamed ICE agent shot Araujo during an immigration operation on Canal Street, and Araujo later died at Ben Taub Hospital.
“His family learned of his death through news reports and social media,” the Congress members said in a press release. “Three men who were in the vehicle, including Araujo’s brother, remain detained.”
The letter demands that:
- DHS and ICE provide written confirmation within 48 hours that all evidence related to Araujo’s killing and the detention of the three men has been preserved.
- DHS and ICE release the complete, unedited body camera footage from the agent who fired the fatal shot, the complete, unedited body camera footage from every officer present, and all dash camera footage from both ICE vehicles involved.
- DHS and ICE confirm whether they will cooperate with state and local agencies conducting the investigation.
- DHS and ICE provide answers regarding why Araujo was targeted, whether ICE had an administrative warrant, who authorized the operation, how many federal officers were present, what led to the shooting, and whether body cameras were activated.
- DHS and ICE explain why Araujo’s name was released before his family was notified of his death.
- DHS and ICE explain what steps they are taking to prevent another tragedy.
Numerous lawmakers, policy makers and residents have called for an independent investigation to be conducted either by the Houston Police Department, Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Texas Rangers or a special prosecutor, but federal authorities have said it’s their jurisdiction and they will manage the investigation.
That’s not good enough, Menefee said Thursday.
“The fear the Trump administration has created has already taken an immeasurable toll on families across the country. Now, that tragedy has reached our own community. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s death demands answers,” he said in a statement. “Every piece of evidence, including body camera footage, witness statements, and any other relevant records, must be preserved, reviewed, and made available through a truly independent investigation.”
Menefee, Green and Garcia attended a vigil in Araujo’s honor on Wednesday night.
“ICE killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in our community. Then his family had to find out through the news and social media. That is cruel. That is unacceptable. And DHS and ICE do not get to investigate themselves behind closed doors and call it accountability,” Garcia said.
