HOUSTON – Houston leaders and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) are calling for an independent investigation after an ICE agent fatally shot an undocumented immigrant during an attempted arrest Tuesday in east Houston.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national who was in the U.S. illegally, was shot and killed Tuesday in east Houston after reportedly trying to run over an agent, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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According to LULAC, family members said Salgado Araujo was on his way to pick up workers Tuesday morning.
According to ICE, he was pulled over by agents during an attempted traffic stop in the 6800 block of Canal Street as part of a “targeted enforcement operation to arrest an illegal alien.”
Officials said Araujo attempted to flee the scene.
ICE said Araujo attempted to ram an ICE law enforcement vehicle, refused multiple verbal commands and used his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE agent. The agent then fired his weapon in self-defense, according to the agency.
Araujo was struck and later pronounced dead at a hospital, officials said.
Houston leaders call for independent investigation
Congressman Christian Menefee calls for an independent and transparent investigation.
“I fully support an independent and transparent investigation into this shooting. All information gleaned from that investigation must be made public,” Menefee said in a statement. “ICE’s actions across the country have caused them to lose the faith and confidence of communities. We must ensure transparency in this investigation.”
Menefee said his heart is with everyone affected by the shooting and that he will continue to monitor the investigation.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office said they will collaborate with federal agencies.
“This morning’s shooting in the 6800 block of Canal Street is currently an active federal investigation,” said spokesperson Courtney Fischer with Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Our office will collaborate with federal authorities to ensure a thorough local review of the evidence.”
Council member Alejandra Salinas said she is deeply concerned about the use of deadly force and called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the prompt release of all available video and investigative findings.
Read Salinas’ full statement:
“The fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent during an operation in Houston’s East End this morning is deeply concerning. The use of deadly force demands full scrutiny and transparency. I am calling for a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the prompt release of all available video and investigative findings. The public deserves a timely account of what happened, clear answers, and accountability. My office has reached out to the appropriate City departments to determine what additional information is available and whether any City personnel or resources were involved in the incident.”
The fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent during an operation in Houston’s East End this morning is deeply concerning. The use of deadly force demands full scrutiny and transparency.
— Alejandra Salinas (@salinasforhtx) July 7, 2026
I am calling for a thorough and impartial investigation into the…
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo released the following statement:
“As the official responsible for the safety of 5 million Texans I want a full and complete investigation into the shooting of a construction worker. This is an agency with a recent history of inexplicable arrests, extrajudicial violence, and blatant attempts at coverups. ICE has long since lost public trust.”
Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin released the following statement:
“I share our community’s deep concern: an interaction with ICE has left one person dead in Magnolia Park. I was just in the neighborhood meeting with residents last night. There must be a complete and transparent investigation, and my office stands ready to support our community and any local investigation into how this tragedy unfolded.”
Republican nominee for Harris County Judge, Orlando Sanchez, released the following statement:
“It is far too early in the investigation for me to have a comment on this incident. Let’s wait and allow those tasked with investigating to do their jobs.”
Democratic nominee for Harris County Judge, Dr. Letitia Plummer, released the following statement:
“My heart is with the family grieving the loss of their loved one and with the residents of Magnolia Park who are searching for answers after a traumatic day in their community. Every loss of life deserves transparency, accountability, and respect,” she said. ”I join LULAC and community leaders in calling for a locally-led investigation that gives answers to the people of Harris County, not Washington. The working families of Magnolia Park deserve peace and quiet, not a battlefield. They work hard every day scrapping for every penny and they are owed the truth about what happened to one of their neighbors.”
Harris County Pct. 1 Commissioner Adrian Garcia released the following statement:
“The of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo is saddening and troubling. He was a father, a family man, and someone known for working hard to provide for his family. My prayers are with his family, his loved ones, and the residents of Magnolia Park who are mourning this loss. His death occurred as he was apparently heading to work in the early morning hours, as he did regularly to provide for his family.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stated the shooting occurred during a targeted enforcement operation and claims the agent acted in self-defense. However, there are conflicting accounts of the moments leading up to this fatal encounter. When a life is taken on our city streets, the public deserves full transparency and the complete truth.
We cannot allow a lack of trust in federal investigations to cloud the pursuit of justice. I stand with the family of Mr. Araujo and local advocates in calling for a prompt, transparent and independent investigation led by the Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Our local authorities are grounded in this community and have the trust needed to ensure full accountability.
Our neighborhoods should not live in fear. As the facts of this case come to light, this family deserves answers and accountability. Justice must be served for Mr. Araujo."
Harris County Pct. 4 Commissioner Leslie Briones released the following statement:
“We have learned of reports regarding a deadly shooting involving ICE agents today in Houston. The Trump administration has broken public trust and constitutional rights with its extremist immigration enforcement. My prayers are with everyone affected by this death, especially the family members who lost a loved one. I support a thorough, transparent, and accurate review for the public to see exactly what happened. We are a nation of laws, and we must always demand justice.”
State Representative Christina Morales also released the following statement:
“Today, a man was shot and another was nearly run over by a vehicle. We’ve seen incidents like this around the country, and now they have come to Houston.
This is not what immigration enforcement should look like. We need answers, and Congress must act with meaningful immigration reform that reduces unlawful border crossings, addresses the backlog of asylum cases, and creates a pathway to legal status.
This incident took place in the Magnolia Park neighborhood, just a handful of miles from both House District 145 and the FIFA World Cup Fan Fest. Immigration enforcement should never put our communities in danger.
People are afraid, and we demand answers and accountability. I join Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia in calling for an independent investigation into this matter."
Harris County Pct. 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis released the following statement:
“My heart is with the Magnolia Park community in the wake of today’s tragic fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by a federal ICE officer—the latest in the recent rise in deaths involving federal immigration enforcement across the country. While many facts are still unknown, this incident demands a full and independent investigation, including a clear accounting of what occurred and which agencies were involved. Harris County residents deserve truth, accountability, and true community safety.”
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare released the following statement:
“Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was shot on his way to work, was a husband, a father, and a longtime member of our community.
When anyone in Harris County loses their life during an interaction with law enforcement, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office conducts an investigation parallel to the agency leading the investigation. Unfortunately at this time, federal authorities continue exclusively handling all aspects in this case.
Let me be clear: Mr. Salgado Araujo’s family and our community deserve the truth.
I urge anyone with video, photos, or eyewitness accounts regarding Tuesday’s shooting in the 6800 block of Canal Street to come forward."
LULAC calls for independent investigation
LULAC also called Tuesday for an independent investigation into the shooting, saying ICE’s account of the incident should not be accepted without additional evidence.
LULAC officials questioned ICE’s assertion that Salgado Araujo used his vehicle to ram law enforcement vehicles and attempted to run over an agent before he was shot. The organization said photos taken from videos recorded by witnesses appeared to show little to no visible damage to Salgado Araujo’s vehicle, though officials acknowledged they have not reviewed all of the evidence.
“We need the facts,” LULAC National Vice President for the Southwest Lupe Torres said. “We are calling for meaningful oversight and a rigorous examination of what happened, not a quiet review, but a full accounting of what has gone on in Houston.”
LULAC is calling for the release of all available evidence, including body camera footage, dash camera video, dispatch logs and bystander recordings. The organization also wants local authorities, including the Houston Police Department and Harris County District Attorney’s Office, to participate in the investigation rather than leaving it solely to federal agencies.
Former LULAC National President Domingo Garcia said the organization is also offering a $5,000 reward for information, video or witness testimony that could help determine whether the shooting was justified or lead to criminal charges or exoneration of those involved.
Garcia said LULAC has sent investigators to meet with Salgado Araujo’s family but had not yet received additional information.
Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General is leading an investigation into the shooting.
FBI Houston is leading an investigation into the potential assault on a federal law enforcement officer.