Houston brothers Ronaldo and Lorenzo Salgado are channeling their grief into activism after their father, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on July 7. The incident occurred as Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old small-business owner, was driving his crew to work.
In the aftermath of the shooting, approximately 14 relatives gathered at the family home in Houston, a house built by Salgado Araujo himself over 30 years ago. The family is now awaiting further information about the incident, which involved unmarked SUVs pursuing Salgado Araujo's van before an agent fired a shot. Video footage shows him on the ground after being shot, calling for help before he died at the hospital.
Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the events. ICE stated that Salgado Araujo refused directives, rammed an agency vehicle, and attempted to run over an officer, who fired in self-defense. However, passengers in the van, who were detained and later released, claim that no officers were in front of the vehicle or in immediate danger when the shooting occurred. ICE agents were not equipped with body cameras. A department spokesperson also indicated that Salgado Araujo was not the intended target of the operation that day. Multiple agencies, including the FBI, Texas Rangers, the Harris County District Attorney’s office, and the ACLU, are investigating. The Harris County DA's office has indicated that a grand jury will decide on any potential charges.
Ronaldo and Lorenzo Jr. believe their father would not have fled if he had recognized the vehicles as government property. The family had an understanding that if Lorenzo Sr., who was undocumented, encountered ICE, he was to contact his sons. He carried legal documents in his van related to his pursuit of legal work status in the U.S.
"It’s that fear that people go to work with every day, that they’re going to be detained and won’t be able to see their family that evening," Lorenzo Jr. stated, reflecting on their past fears about his father's potential detention.
Ronaldo Salgado stated, “Everyone has the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. For immigrants trying to achieve the American dream, regardless of status, they're entitled to that. Also, they’re entitled to due process. Unfortunately, the Department of Homeland Security, specifically ICE, isn’t following through on that promise.” A DHS spokesperson responded, “All illegal aliens receive due process. We are applying the law as written by Congress. If a judge finds an illegal alien has no right to be in this country, we are going to remove them.”
As U.S. citizens, Ronaldo and Lorenzo Jr. feel a responsibility to speak out. Ronaldo has participated in press conferences and testified at a congressional forum, aiming to influence state legislation to protect immigrant communities. "I’m trying to use that anger and channel it in a more positive way," Ronaldo said. "I feel right now that I cannot slow down, that I have to continue taking on these meetings, doing these interviews, doing anything I can just to get my dad's name out there, to shine a light as to what happened, to who my dad was, and the injustices that my dad experienced—that we're still experiencing to this day."
Salgado Araujo, who had a middle school education, instilled in his sons a value for education. Ronaldo, a history teacher, had been preparing to move for a new teaching position but resigned to focus on his advocacy work. He cited his father's potential retirement plans and his parents' desire to spend more time together as reasons for his initial belief that his father would be fine without him nearby.
Ronaldo visits the site of his father's death daily, where he often meets others who share their own immigration stories and losses. Community members have created and maintained a memorial at the site.
"This is all just to try to remember a man who worked all his life to give his family a better life, and to give his kids something to be proud of,” Ronaldo said.