(The Center Square) – Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, all Democrats, held a field hearing in Houston Friday to address concerns about federal immigration enforcement actions resulting in fatalities.
The hearing was held in response to a July 7 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement fatal shooting of Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who’d been living and working illegally in the U.S. for more than 30 years.
The caucus chair, U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-NY, said eight people, including two U.S. citizens, have been killed by ICE agents so far during the second Trump administration.
One of the main reasons people are being killed is because ICE officers aren’t receiving proper training, he said. He also raised concerns, along with others, that ICE agents aren’t wearing body cameras like others in law enforcement.
The caucus invited officials from ICE, Department of Homeland Security and the FBI to attend and they “refused … so we are going to hold them accountable,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, said the hearing was about “accountability, transparency and to uphold the Constitution.”
She said they would keep seeking answers to questions her constituents asked: “How did this happen? Could it have been prevented? And who will be held accountable?”
She said Democrats on several congressional committees have sent six letters with a combined 180 signatures to DHS and ICE requesting information about ICE shootings and other immigration related issues and received no response.
She also said she received a letter from a Mexican official stating, “Mexico wishes to convey its concern regarding recent incidents involving the use of force and the conditions faced by Mexican nationals in the context of immigration enforcement and detention.”
“So, it's not just here in Houston, it's across the country and globally that people are concerned about the actions of ICE,” she added.
Salgado’s sons, Ronaldo and Lorenzo, testified that their father was a hard worker who put them through college and loved the United States. They also said their family had long discussed and prepared for what would happen if their father was encountered by ICE knowing he was living and working in the country illegally. “We spoke about what would happen if he encountered ICE and he believed there would be a way for him to come back home to us,” Ronaldo Salgado said.
They called for an independent, thorough investigation and for ICE to release three members of their father’s work crew who were in the van when he was killed. The men are also in the country illegally and remain in ICE detention. The brothers said they shouldn’t be deported. Espaillat also said they shouldn’t be deported.
An independent investigation has been launched by Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare. Over the past two weeks, investigators from the DA’s office have been collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses. Such an investigation “is not unique,” he said. “It's been the standard practice for decades. When a civilian is killed by an on-duty member of law enforcement, we investigate. In fact, law enforcement routinely invites the DA's office to the scene so we can immediately begin our own independent investigation.”
Local law enforcement is working with the DA’s investigation, including the FBI’s Houston Field Office, Houston Police Department, Harris County Constable Precinct 6 and Houston Metro. He said their “investigation is moving rapidly. We don't have all the pieces, but we are making significant progress.” He also urged witnesses and neighbors from Houston’s East End to come forward.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers are also “working alongside our team of prosecutors and investigators to ensure a thorough investigation,” he said. Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Rangers to investigate last week, The Center Square reported.
“Those of us in law enforcement don't take issue with deporting violent felons,” Teare said. “However, here in Harris County there are crimes and cases my office has not been able to prosecute because witnesses are scared of immigration consequences. They refuse to come forward or testify for fear of being deported.”
“Unauthorized individuals are especially vulnerable,” he said, referring to illegal foreign nationals. “We know fewer domestic violence cases are being reported because victims are too afraid to cooperate with local law enforcement. Last year, a material witness in a pending murder case was literally on a plane to El Salvador.”
“Our job is to ensure crucial witnesses must remain here so that we can pursue justice,” he added. “And in this investigation, witnesses must feel safe to come forward with the information about the events of July 7th. They can't fear immigration consequences.” He urged eyewitnesses to come forward to help with the investigation.
DHS’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI are also investigating the shooting, The Center Square reported.
The hearing did not address assaults against ICE agents, which are up 1,300% since the Biden administration. Vehicular attacks against ICE agents are up 3,200%; death threats are up by 8,000%, The Center Square reported.
