Kamala Harris Joins Calls for Independent Investigation Into Fatal Houston ICE Shooting
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is condemning the fatal shooting of Houston construction worker Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, joining his family and Texas leaders in demanding an immediate and independent investigation.
“Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s family called him ‘El mundo entero’ — the whole world. Two days ago, he was shot and killed by ICE agents on his way to work,” Harris wrote in a statement posted to social media.
Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old husband and father of three from Mexico, was driving a construction crew through Houston’s Magnolia Park neighborhood Tuesday when ICE officers in unmarked vehicles attempted to stop his van. He was shot in the abdomen and later died at a hospital.
Federal officials have since acknowledged that Salgado Araujo was not the target of the immigration operation. Agents were reportedly searching for two other people when they stopped his vehicle.
Harris Calls ICE’s Actions ‘Horrific and Cruel’
The Department of Homeland Security claims Salgado Araujo ignored officers’ commands, struck a government vehicle and attempted to use his van against an agent. The agency said the officer fired in self-defense.
No publicly released video has verified that account. DHS has also confirmed that the ICE officers involved were not wearing body cameras during the encounter.
Video recorded after the shooting shows Salgado Araujo lying wounded in the street and crying out in pain.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's family called him "El mundo entero" — the whole world.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 9, 2026
Two days ago, he was shot and killed by ICE agents on his way to work. Many of us have seen the horrifying video of him crying out in pain, and we continue to be outraged by the horrific and cruel… https://t.co/yof5RZdrNS
“Many of us have seen the horrifying video of him crying out in pain, and we continue to be outraged by the horrific and cruel actions of ICE under the Trump Administration,” Harris said.
She continued, “Doug and my prayers are with Lorenzo’s wife, his three sons, and all those who loved and knew him. I join his son Ronaldo in calling for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation.”
Salgado Araujo had lived in the United States for approximately 35 years, had no criminal record and was working to obtain legal status, according to his family and elected officials. His relatives described him as a peaceful and hardworking provider who dedicated his life to construction and caring for his family.
His son, Ronaldo Salgado, said his father would have complied had he understood that the people approaching his van were federal officers. The family believes the unmarked vehicles may have caused him to fear that he and his workers were being robbed.
Houston Lawmakers Demand Evidence From DHS
Harris’ statement adds to growing pressure on the Trump administration to release all evidence connected to the shooting.
U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee joined Salgado Araujo’s family, U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, LULAC representatives and Houston community leaders in calling for full transparency.
“To be clear, somebody being killed by law enforcement is a big goddamn deal!” Menefee said during a news conference.
“What other profession has the power to take somebody’s life in the middle of a street?” he continued. “We need a full and transparent investigation into what happened here, and all of the evidence needs to be released to the public.”
![Family members hold pictures of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was fatally shot by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Houston, Texas, the United States [Antranik Tavitian/Reuters]](https://saobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/featured-39-1024x683.png)
Four Houston-area Democratic members of Congress also sent a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director David Venturella demanding an independent investigation and the release of any available footage. The lawmakers said ICE has not produced evidence supporting its allegation that Salgado Araujo “weaponized his vehicle.”
The shooting has prompted protests and vigils in Houston, where hundreds gathered near the location of Salgado Araujo’s death to demand justice and accountability.
The FBI and DHS are investigating, but Salgado Araujo’s family and local leaders maintain that a review controlled by federal agencies involved in the incident would not provide the independence the case requires.
