A 52-year-old Mexican construction worker was fatally shot by United States immigration agents during a traffic stop in Houston, Texas, after authorities mistakenly identified him as the subject of an enforcement operation.
The victim, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, was travelling to work with three colleagues at about 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday when federal officers intercepted his vehicle.
He later died in hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acknowledged on Thursday that Salgado was not the individual agents had intended to apprehend.
Officials explained that officers initiated the stop after spotting a white van driven by someone they believed closely matched the appearance of a person under investigation.
According to DHS, officers had previously monitored two white vans linked to a location under surveillance. When they returned to the area on Tuesday and observed a similar vehicle, they proceeded with the operation.
Authorities maintained that the officer discharged his firearm in self-defence, alleging Salgado attempted to flee and struck an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle during the encounter.
Family members, however, disputed the government’s account, describing Salgado as a long-time resident who had spent nearly 30 years working in Houston’s construction industry after entering the country without legal documentation.
They said he had no criminal history and was nearing approval for a work permit.
The incident has also drawn attention to the absence of body camera footage.
DHS confirmed that the officers involved were not equipped with body-worn cameras, although the department said roughly half of its field personnel now have the devices, with the remaining officers expected to receive them within the next two months.
The fatal shooting sparked demonstrations in Houston, while four Democratic members of Congress called for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Salgado’s death.
In a letter addressed to DHS, Representatives Sylvia Garcia, Al Green, Lizzie Fletcher and Christian Menefee argued that the case reflects a broader pattern of excessive force by immigration officers.
They criticised the department’s explanation, saying it closely resembled previous official accounts involving disputed claims of self-defence and vehicle-related threats.
Meanwhile, the Mexican government announced plans to pursue criminal complaints in the United States over the deaths of several Mexican nationals linked to ICE detention and enforcement actions.
Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said 14 Mexican citizens had died while in ICE custody, with three others losing their lives during immigration operations.
He noted that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had instructed authorities to seek criminal investigations into the incidents to ensure accountability.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong