Salgado, 52, was shot and killed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during a traffic stop in Magnolia Park. Residents and activist groups have since have held several rallies criticizing the federal agency, including one on Tuesday at City Hall where residents and businesses were asked to participate in Friday’s “No Business As Usual” protest.
After days of rallies condemning the shooting, organizers shifted tactics Friday by calling for an economic boycott. They asked Houstonians to close businesses, stay home and avoid spending money in an effort to pressure elected officials and federal authorities to act.
Organizers shared a list of businesses that shut down Friday ahead of a protest slated for 6 p.m.
Similar “No Business As Usual” protests were held in Minneapolis after federal immigration officers killed Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti during Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale federal immigration operation that ended earlier this year.
Salgado was driving Daniel Tirado Pantoja, Jose Trinidad Rojas and his brother, Victor Salgado, to work in the East End when ICE agents began pursuing the vehicle in unmarked SUVs. The three men who were with Salgado remain detained at an ICE processing center in Conroe.
After the shooting, Mayor John Whitmire initially said the city lacked jurisdiction to investigate because the FBI and Department of Homeland Security were leading the case. He later directed Houston police to support District Attorney Sean Teare’s independent probe and offer resources to federal authorities.
Whitmire also asked Gov. Greg Abbott to have the Texas Rangers investigate. Abbott agreed to direct the state agency to conduct its own investigation.