HOUSTON – U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia said Friday that the three witnesses who were inside the van when Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was fatally shot by an ICE agent remain detained at the Montgomery County Processing Center in Conroe, raising concerns that they could be deported before investigators have an opportunity to interview them.
Garcia was joined at a news conference by Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, attorney Hugo Baldera-Ybarra and U.S. Rep. Al Green to discuss new developments in Tuesday’s ICE-involved shooting in Houston’s East End.
Garcia said she spoke with Acting ICE Director David Venturella, who confirmed Salgado Araujo was not the intended target of the operation.
According to Garcia, ICE officers were attempting to locate another individual who had a final order of removal. She said the operation was based on an administrative immigration warrant, not a criminal arrest warrant, and that officers did not personally know the individual they were trying to locate.
Garcia also criticized how the operation was carried out, saying the agents involved were driving unmarked vehicles that did not have emergency lights or sirens and were not equipped with body-worn cameras or dashboard cameras.
“They should have body cameras,” Garcia said, adding that members of the public should know they are being stopped by law enforcement “instead of being followed by black SUVs.”
Garcia also criticized the Department of Homeland Security for publicly identifying Salgado Araujo before his family had been notified of his death.
“No family should ever learn about the death of a loved one through social media or a press report,” Garcia said, adding that DHS should apologize to the family.
She also expressed concern that the three detained witnesses could be deported before investigators can interview them. Garcia alleged ICE is encouraging the men to accept voluntary departure, which she said could jeopardize the investigation.
Attorney says witnesses tell a different story
Baldera-Ybarra said he met with the three detainees Thursday morning at the Montgomery County Processing Center in Conroe.
He said one of his clients lost his brother in the shooting, while the other two lost a close friend.
“My clients’ version of events is very different,” Baldera-Ybarra said.
He called for the men’s immediate release, arguing they are key witnesses whose testimony should be preserved before any immigration proceedings continue.
Baldera-Ybarra said he fears the men could be pressured into signing paperwork agreeing to voluntarily leave the country before they have an opportunity to fully participate in the investigation.
He also criticized ICE’s handling of use-of-force investigations, alleging the agency has a pattern of claiming self-defense in shootings involving vehicles and deporting immigrants before investigations are complete. He further alleged Latino immigrants have been disproportionately targeted during immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
Those allegations have not been independently verified by KPRC 2.
DA asks public for videos, witnesses
Teare said his office has been investigating the shooting since Tuesday, just as it would any officer-involved shooting in Harris County.
“We’re doing everything we can to ensure every case receives a full, fair investigation,” Teare said.
He emphasized the importance of transparency.
“If we aren’t transparent and the people do not believe we are holding law enforcement accountable, we will lose the trust of the people,” Teare said.
Teare urged anyone who witnessed the shooting or has surveillance or cellphone video to contact investigators.
Al Green
Rep. Al Green thanked Teare for continuing the local investigation.
“Thank you to the Harris County District Attorney for not letting the feds bully you into not investigating,” Green said.