Federal immigration officials have confirmed that the Mexican construction worker killed during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Houston earlier this week was not the individual agents were originally seeking to arrest, adding a new layer of scrutiny to a fatal encounter that has already sparked protests and official investigations.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, was driving to work with three fellow construction workers early Tuesday morning when ICE agents attempted to stop his vehicle. He was later shot by a federal officer and died after being taken to hospital.
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DHS explains why agents stopped the vehicle
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), officers had been conducting surveillance at an address linked to an immigration enforcement operation after receiving information from law enforcement partners. Officials said agents had previously observed two white vans at the location and initiated the traffic stop after seeing a similar van driven by someone they believed resembled their intended target.
The department maintains that the officer who fired the fatal shot acted in self-defence. DHS alleges Salgado attempted to evade the stop, struck an ICE vehicle and tried to drive toward an officer, prompting the use of deadly force.
Officials also confirmed that the agents involved were not wearing body cameras during the incident, although DHS says roughly half of its field officers are now equipped with the devices, with the remainder expected to receive them in the coming weeks.
Witnesses and family dispute the official account
Relatives and the three passengers travelling with Salgado have rejected the government’s version of events.
Their attorney has said all three witnesses insist that no ICE agent was standing directly in front of the van or placed in immediate danger before the shooting. Salgado’s sons have also questioned why deadly force was used, describing him as a longtime construction worker with no criminal history who was on his way to a job site.
Family members say Salgado had lived in the Houston area for decades after arriving in the United States as an undocumented migrant and had been working toward obtaining legal work authorization.
Multiple investigations now underway
The fatal shooting is being reviewed by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, while the FBI is leading a separate investigation related to the alleged assault on a federal officer during the encounter.
Houston officials have also pledged to support a transparent review. Police Chief Noe Diaz said local authorities stand ready to assist federal investigators, while noting that local police do not have independent authority to investigate federal officers acting within the scope of their official duties.
Political pressure grows
The shooting has drawn growing political attention in Texas.
Four Democratic members of Congress representing the Houston area have called for an independent investigation, arguing that the public deserves a full accounting of what occurred. In a letter to DHS, the lawmakers questioned the department’s explanation and cited previous controversial incidents involving federal immigration agents.
Community demonstrations have also taken place in Houston and other cities, with protesters calling for greater transparency, accountability and broader use of body-worn cameras during immigration enforcement operations.
Mexico seeks further accountability
The case has also prompted a response from the Mexican government.
Mexican officials say they intend to pursue criminal complaints in the United States over the deaths of Mexican nationals during ICE custody or enforcement operations. The announcement came after officials said multiple Mexican citizens had died in connection with immigration detention or arrests, and they want those cases examined as potential criminal matters.
Investigators have not yet released video evidence or identified the officer involved in the shooting, and key questions about the encounter remain unresolved. The findings of the federal investigations are expected to play a central role in determining whether the use of deadly force complied with agency policy and federal law.
For Salgado’s family, the acknowledgement that he was not the intended target has intensified calls for answers. As investigators continue gathering evidence, the case is likely to remain under close public and political scrutiny in the weeks ahead.
