SAN ANTONIO – As immigration enforcement remains at the center of a national debate, local advocates took their message to the streets with a rally near downtown San Antonio calling for an end to ICE-related shootings.

The demonstration, hosted by the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, was held at La Trinidad United Methodist Church and began with a prayer for those who have died. “Rest now in the arms of god,” one prayer said.

The rally comes one month after Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot by ICE agents in Houston. The Department of Homeland Security said officers fired in self-defense after Salgado Araujo allegedly rammed an ICE vehicle. A passenger in the vehicle disputes DHS’ account of what happened.

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Many at the rally, including LULAC, are calling on ICE to release body camera footage of the shooting and to provide full transparency as the investigation continues.

“It’s a shame of what this admin is doing., The Mexican American community has built an economy bigger than most in countries across the world,” one speaker said.

Advocates also pointed to a case with local ties: the death of Ruben Ray Martinez in South Padre last year. Martinez, a 23-year-old San Antonio man, was visiting with a friend during spring break in March 2025.

DHS said an agent opened fire after Martinez’s car allegedly struck an officer who was directing traffic near the scene of another crash.

In an exclusive interview with FOX SA this week, Martinez’s mother said she remains heartbroken.

“He didn’t have to do that. It could have been handled another way… Ruben did not deserve to die… Ruben was not a threat that night… He was never a threat to anyone,” she said.

A Cameron County grand jury later declined to indict the Homeland Security Investigations agent involved in the shooting. It took nearly a year for officials to release the body camera video from that night, a delay that LULAC and other organizations said underscores the need for greater transparency.

Organizers said they are planning to hold another rally next month.