At the Forest Park Lawndale funeral complex in Houston’s East End, María Guadalupe García walked solemnly among gravestones. García came to pay her last respects to Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant and father of three, killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a traffic stop in Texas.
“They killed him mercilessly,” García expressed, mourning the loss of Salgado Araujo—a man she remembered as hard-working and community-minded. García, 57, recounted how he always greeted her and inquired about her family, adding, “We never saw him in any scandal. He raised his children and provided jobs to others. What happened is a tragedy.”
Another resident, preferring anonymity due to immigration concerns, pointed at nearby gravestones and remarked, “We all end up here, buried, but Lorenzo had so much life ahead of him. It’s unbelievable that the government would shoot him like that.”
“Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, we will always remember you and demand an investigation into your death,” Edgar Morales, a University of Houston student, stated on a condolence card at the funeral, reflecting the concern among the Hispanic community over safety following the incident.
Inside the grand chapel, attendees gathered for Salgado Araujo’s wake. Family members, friends, and other mourners listened as ranchera and Mexican music played, including Juan Gabriel’s “Amor Eterno.” On display were personal items like a white safety helmet and a toolbox, with jerseys of El Tri, the Mexican national soccer team, reminding them of Salgado Araujo’s life.
“My family is deeply grateful for the incredible support received,” Ronaldo Salgado shared in a Facebook post.
Ronaldo, alongside brother Lorenzo Salgado, greeted visitors in front of the open coffin where their father rested.
César Espinosa, executive director of the immigrant rights group FIEL, highlighted the urgency of confronting these realities in the United States, emphasizing the need for awareness and action. Espinosa noted that FIEL and other organizations are organizing a large march in Houston to keep Salgado Araujo’s story alive.
On the morning of July 7, Salgado Araujo, 52, who led a construction crew, was traveling with others to a work site in Houston when ICE agents stopped his van. Though not their intended target, ICE agents tried to arrest him, resulting in a shooting that claimed his life. The Department of Homeland Security alleged self-defense, citing Salgado Araujo’s unauthorized status and an attempt to run over agents.
The FBI pursued a search warrant for the van, suspecting drug involvement due to observed bags containing a white substance. However, the family’s attorney, Ruby L. Powers, clarified the substance was salt, used by workers to endure Texas heat. Powers demanded a prompt analysis to vindicate Salgado Araujo’s brother and two others arrested post-incident.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas reported seeing several bags with crystal-like substances inside the van. Despite executing a search warrant, doubts remain about narcotic presence, prompting debates over the search.
Salgado Araujo, who had no criminal record, lived in the U.S. for 35 years. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced an investigation by state law enforcement. Community members, along with Houston’s chief prosecutor, criticized the FBI’s actions and continued to question the basis of the fatal shooting.