A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a motorist, identified as Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, in Houston on Tuesday. The Department of Homeland Security and ICE stated the incident occurred during a targeted enforcement operation and an attempted traffic stop to conduct an immigration arrest. ICE described Salgado as a Mexican national and illegal alien who attempted to evade arrest.
According to an ICE statement, Salgado rammed a law enforcement vehicle and refused multiple verbal commands. The agency claimed he weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an officer, leading the agent to fire his weapon in self-defense. Conversely, the man's son, Ronaldo Salgado, stated that his father was in the process of seeking workers for hire in the area.
This incident comes as at least six deadly shootings by federal officers have occurred since the start of the Trump administration’s intensive immigration enforcement crackdown. Over the past year, initial statements from immigration enforcement agencies have been challenged by video footage or other evidence. In one instance, charges were dropped against Marimar Martinez, a Chicago-area woman accused of ramming officers, after video evidence suggested agents could have struck her vehicle themselves.