<\/p>\n
Mayor John Whitmire speaks to the media about the city\u2019s immigration policies, after reports that at least two officers violated policies by transporting people to ICE, during a news conference at HPD headquarters in Houston, Wednesday, March 11, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Houston Mayor John\u00a0Whitmire declined to seek a city-led investigation into the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo<\/a> by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, saying there cannot be a city investigation while a federal investigation is ongoing.<\/p>\n “We’re monitoring it very carefully,” Whitmire said. “It’s truly a tragedy… But there’s no involvement with HPD.\u201d<\/p>\n Whitmire said it was a tragic, complex issue and his prayers go out to the family and the community that “feels the pain.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n ICE SHOOTING LIVE UPDATES:\u00a0Araujo’s family calls for independent investigation: ‘We will not stop’<\/a><\/p>\n The announcement comes one day after a federal agent shot and killed Araujo<\/a>, 52, during what authorities called a \u201ctargeted operation\u201d in Houston’s Magnolia Park neighborhood. Federal officials said the agent acted in self-defense.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ronaldo Salgado, the son of Araujo, described him as a construction worker who had lived in the United States for nearly 35 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe was in the process of obtaining his work permit through the legal process,\u201d Salgado wrote on social media. \u201cHe was on his way to work, picking up his workers. My father did not deserve this.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n GoFundMe created by LULAC for family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.<\/p>\n Courtesy of GoFundMe<\/p>\n The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement<\/a>: \u201cICE law enforcement attempted to conduct a vehicle stop as part of a targeted enforcement operation to arrest an illegal alien,\u201d and alleges that Araujo \u201crammed an ICE law enforcement vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n The stepdaughter of another man arrested by ICE<\/a> during the encounter has accused the officers of racial profiling.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThey just saw a couple of Hispanic men going to work, so they decided to chase them down and follow them,\u201d Montserrat Cadoso told the Houston Chronicle. \u201cThey were targeted because they\u2019re Hispanic men.\u201d<\/p>\n The FBI said it was investigating the alleged assault of an ICE officer. Immediately following the shooting, Connor Hagan, a spokesperson for FBI Houston, and the Houston Police Department referred questions about the case to Department of Homeland Security.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n A protest was held near the scene of the shooting Tuesday and vigils are scheduled Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n City Council responds<\/p>\n A handful of city council members called for the city to conduct an independent investigation, despite the mayor’s decision.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the City of Houston. What happens here is our responsibility as well,\u201d said council member Edward Pollard. \u201cWe have all the right to ask for video footage in the area from any business owner, from any camera that is accessible to us, to be able to get witness statements, to talk to the community, to try and figure out what happened.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t just leave everything up to the federal government and sit back and hope that they will be transparent regarding their own agency and their own actions,\u201d Pollard said.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Council Member Alejandra Salinas also called for a city-led investigation in an Op-ed<\/a> in the Houston Chronicle.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe owe Salgado Araujo and his family nothing less than truth, transparency and action,\u201d\u00a0Salinas wrote. \u201cWe must not allow ICE\u2019s violence to become normal in the streets of Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n Council Member Joaquin Martinez, who represents the Magnolia Park area, didn’t call for a city-led investigation, but said his office is in communication with U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia’s office, whose district also represents the area and is calling for an independent investigation<\/a>.<\/p>\n “I want to reassure the community HPD was not there,” Martinez said. “It’s important to ensure we’re not conflating the two.”<\/p>\n Interim Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin echoed similar concerns, saying late Tuesday that her office,\u201d stands ready to support our community and any local investigation into how this tragedy unfolded.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The League of United Latin American Citizens launched a fundraiser for Araujo\u2019s family Wednesday morning. LULAC has also called on HPD to lead an investigation into the shooting.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n