Through chants, table pounding and tears, speakers begged Houston City Council on Tuesday to stand up to federal officials and remove immigration agents from the city after last week’s fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, while Mayor John Whitmire said key evidence in the shooting has been provided to the District Attorney’s office.

The public outrage comes as Houston has been catapulted into the national spotlight after Salgado’s death at the hands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during a traffic stop in Magnolia Park last Tuesday.

The Department of Homeland Security is investigating the incident, but District Attorney Sean Teare said he has begun an independent investigation. Whitmire also has directed the Houston Police Department to offer resources to federal authorities after initially saying the city could not intervene in the federal probe. 

ICE SHOOTING:

Whitmire tells HPD to offer resources for federal ICE shooting probe

During Tuesday’s public comment period, Whitmire reiterated that he supports a transparent, independent investigation, though the scope of the city’s involvement remains unclear. 

Whitmire also said the audio of the 911 call, Houston Metro bus camera footage and other resources have been provided to the DA’s office, and noted Teare and HPD Chief Noe Diaz were meeting with FBI officials Tuesday.

“It’s been one week today since the tragedy of Mr. Araujo. The pain has not subsided,” Whitmire said. “It’s certainly united this council. It’s united our city. And as mayor, I want to thank Houstonians from every walk of life that has showed their compassion… The real challenge for the city of Houston is to make certain that everything is done to support this family.”

Jeana Magallon, a Houston ISD elementary school teacher, addressed the council through tears, saying the city must investigate Salgado’s death “for the sake of Houston’s children.”

“After a man, a father, was murdered in our streets, we are teaching our children to expect violence towards them,” Magallon said. “Please, for my students, for our children, justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. This is on all of you.”

ICE SHOOTING: Congressional hearing set in Houston over fatal ICE shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo

While speakers voiced their frustrations at the mayor and council, dozens of protesters shouting “ICE out of Houston” outside could be heard inside City Hall. 

Protesters held signs saying “ICE melts in Texas heat” and “immigrants make America great.” One wore a Mexican flag draped across her shoulders, and others wore Mexican soccer and baseball jerseys.

“I definitely want the mayor to hear us,” Adrienne Vasquez said. “We’re making a lot of noise, and we’re gonna keep coming out until he hears us, but ICE doesn’t belong here.”

Despite Whitmire’s support for an independent investigation, Vasquez said she doesn’t believe he will do anything. Vasquez said she’s still waiting to see justice for Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed in January by ICE agents in Minnesota.

Salgado was shot on July 7 during what federal officials called a “targeted enforcement” operation, but the agency later acknowledged he was not the person agents were searching for. Federal officials also alleged Salgado “weaponized” his vehicle and tried running over ICE agents, but witnesses disputed that claim.

After another fatal shooting by ICE agents in Maine this week, reports stated federal officials instructed ICE agents to suspend most vehicle stops across the country. 

‘ICE melts in Texas heat’

Some speakers pounded the podium in front of the mayor, yelling and crying into the microphone, saying the mayor and council have a “moral responsibility” to hold ICE accountable. 

In addition to seeking a city-led investigation, speakers asked the council to suspend the 2028 GOP convention and to launch a multilingual “know your rights” campaign throughout the city.

District J Council Member Edward Pollard said the city needs to be direct and clear when it calls for an independent investigation.

“There was a Houstonian that was killed. So Houstonians have to take the lead on that investigation,” Pollard said. “I don’t believe we need to wait for the federal government or the state agencies to get involved when we can take the lead ourselves.”

District C Council Member Joe Panzarella agreed with many of the speakers on Tuesday, saying he believes ICE needs to leave Houston and should be abolished.

Kamila Galindo Amador, a daughter of immigrants, told city council she is scared for the future of her generation in Houston.

“Please protect the people who call Houston home,” the 16-year-old said. “Please do not let state mandates prevent you from protecting the people you serve.”

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This article originally published at Calls grow to remove ICE from Houston one week after fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.