Houston DA Prepared to Prosecute ICE Agents in Shooting Case

The district attorney in Harris County, Sean Teare, has announced his office’s readiness to prosecute federal immigration agents if criminal wrongdoing is found in a recent fatal shooting involving a Mexican immigrant. Teare emphasized the importance of conducting a thorough and independent investigation into the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on July 7.

Teare highlighted that dozens of subpoenas have been issued by local investigators to gather evidence and testimony regarding the incident. The DA reassured the community of an impartial and transparent probe to uphold justice, regardless of whether the accused are federal agents or other individuals. He stated, “You can’t come into our community, take someone’s life, and then hide behind a badge.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed Salgado Araujo weaponized his van during a traffic stop, leading an ICE agent to open fire. It admitted that ICE agents were initially searching for a different person. Salgado Araujo’s family has contradicted this narrative, describing him as a loving father who had resided in the U.S. for over 30 years.

Following this incident, another ICE officer shot a driver in Maine less than a week later, raising concerns about ICE’s conduct in such scenarios. While the FBI is investigating the Houston incident, they are treating it as a potential assault on a federal agent. DHS’s Office of Inspector General is conducting its own examination.

Teare indicated that potential charges under consideration include murder, criminally negligent homicide, and tampering with evidence. He expressed frustration over ICE’s lack of cooperation, specifically the absence of any names of agents involved in the shooting. He described it as “strange” compared to protocol in non-fatal incidents involving federal partners.

Drawing on his extensive experience in law enforcement, Teare criticized ICE techniques, questioning whether agents are either untrained or purposefully positioning themselves where they could justify discharging firearms.

In response to the scrutiny from the shootings, ICE has temporarily suspended deportation agents from conducting vehicular stops. This measure will remain until further instructions are issued.

Teare’s office has also submitted documents to secure visas for witnesses of the shooting to prevent their deportation during the investigation. These witnesses, including Salgado Araujo’s brother, are currently detained in Texas by ICE.

Potentially, these witnesses might be eligible for U visas, protecting them as crime victims assisting in a law enforcement inquiry. Teare stressed their significance, stating, “They’re the three eyewitnesses to this shooting. There are not many things that are more important in this investigation than their recollections.”

Juan Proaño, the CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens, insists upon a complete and unbiased probe, urging federal officials not to deport the witnesses. He stated, “Lorenzo Salgado Araujo deserves a full and independent investigation. That investigation is impossible if the people who watched him die are gone.”