LULAC demands Houston police investigation into ICE shooting death

LULAC leaders said that federal law enforcement could not be trusted to conduct an impartial investigation into the death of Araujo, a Mexican citizen, in Houston’s Magnolia Park neighborhood and asked that local authorities take charge of the inquiry into the shooting.

“We want an independent investigation, not a federal investigation by the FBI and Kash Patel,” said LULAC CEO Juan Proaño. “This should be conducted by the Houston Police Department, that is grounded in the community with accountability at a local level.”

HPD said Tuesday that it was not involved with the investigation. The Houston Chronicle has reached out to the department and Mayor John Whitmire’s office regarding LULAC’s statement. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately provide a comment. 

Former LULAC President Domingo Garcia called HPD’s lack of involvement a “dereliction of duty.”

“This happened in the city limits of Houston. This is a crime, or possibly a crime, and therefore HPD has a duty,” Garcia said. “The fact that it was conducted by ICE agents does not change that it could be a state crime that happened within the city limits of Houston, so you cannot punt the ball and say it’s not my job.”

Garcia also called on the Harris County District Attorney to investigate the shooting, noting that it was the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office in Minnesota that charged ICE agents with assault during Operation Metro Surge, and not federal authorities.

U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, whose district includes Magnolia Park, also called for all evidence to be preserved for an independent investigation in an emailed statement. Garcia did not specify who should conduct an investigation. 

“ICE has released an initial account, but the facts must be independently and thoroughly investigated, including the circumstances that led to the use of deadly force,” Garcia said.

“All available footage, communications, and other evidence should be preserved and reviewed as part of a full and impartial investigation. The victim’s family, my constituents, and the entire community deserve a complete and transparent accounting of what happened.”