Son of Mexican migrant killed by ICE tells heartbreaking story of learning about shooting on social media
Family Grieves After Mexican Father Shot Dead by Immigration Officers in Houston
Son of Mexican migrant killed by ICE - Ronaldo Salgado, a local educator, has recounted the devastating moment he discovered his father's death through social media rather than official channels. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican citizen who had resided in the United States for three and a half decades, was fatally wounded by federal immigration agents while commuting to his job in East Houston, Texas.
The tragic incident occurred less than two days before Ronaldo addressed reporters during an emotional gathering. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the shooting took place during what officials described as a targeted operation. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was a devoted husband and father of three children who built a small construction enterprise and was nearing completion of his legal status paperwork.
"I learned of my father's passing from a news report on social media, not the hospital, not law enforcement," Ronaldo Salgado said through tears. "I saw a video posted on Facebook that he had been shot. I recognized him immediately, not from his appearance, but from his voice crying for help as he lay on the street, bleeding out."
Ronaldo recalled receiving a frantic phone call from his mother around 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning. The family initially only knew that immigration authorities were involved in whatever had happened. When Ronaldo arrived at the scene, his father's van remained parked nearby, but there was no visible sign of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo anywhere.
Homeland Security officials issued a statement alleging that Lorenzo Salgado Araujo attempted to avoid capture. According to the department, he allegedly rammed an ICE law enforcement vehicle, ignored several verbal commands, and used his vehicle as a weapon in an effort to strike an officer. The officer responded by firing his weapon in what they characterized as self-defense. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was transported to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
A Growing Pattern of Controversy
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's death represents the first fatality involving federal immigration officers since the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. His passing has reignited concerns about how immigration enforcement operations are conducted and investigated.
Local officials and civil rights organizations have demanded a thorough and transparent examination of the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Houston city council member Alejandra Salinas described the incident as deeply concerning, while Democratic Representative Sylvia Garcia, whose district encompasses the location of the shooting, called for an independent review.
"My father did not deserve this," Ronaldo Salgado added. "He just wanted to go to work and come back to us."
The Hispanic civil rights group League of United Latin American Citizens challenged the official narrative. LULAC stated that ICE's assertion that Mr. Salgado attempted to use his vehicle to injure officers should not be accepted without scrutiny. The organization called for the publication of bodycam footage, surveillance recordings, radio communications, and witness statements.
The group noted that this is not the first instance where ICE justified a shooting by claiming someone tried to run over officers, only for subsequent evidence to contradict that claim. LULAC specifically referenced the 2025 shooting of American citizen Marimar Martinez and the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis in January 2026.
Martinez, a 30-year-old teaching assistant, was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in Chicago. She had been accused of assaulting officers with her car during the Trump administration's enforcement surge in the city, but evidence later demonstrated that the allegation was false.
In Minneapolis, Good was accused of running over an ICE agent with her vehicle. She was shot at point-blank range by the officer. Video footage contradicted the accusation, yet Good was labeled a "domestic terrorist" by former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House officials following her death, sparking international outrage.
Ronaldo Salgado emphasized that his father had been diligently working to obtain his work permit and had been meticulous in following all requirements. "My father did not deserve this," he said. "He just wanted to go to work and come back to us."
In a statement to The Independent, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the Office of Inspector General is conducting an investigation into the shooting. Additionally, the FBI Houston office is leading a probe into the potential assault on a federal law enforcement officer.
The community continues to await comprehensive results from these investigations as they seek closure and accountability for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's death.