A United States immigration agent fatally shot a man in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday while officers were attempting to stop his vehicle, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The victim was identified as Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, described by ICE as a Mexican national and “illegal alien” who tried to evade arrest during a “targeted enforcement operation.”

Ronaldo Salgado, the victim’s son, told Telemundo Houston that his father was shot while looking for workers to hire. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed Salgado Araujo ignored commands, rammed an ICE vehicle, and attempted to run over an officer.

Previous fatal shootings by ICE agents, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, have sparked controversy, with witnesses disputing official accounts. Surveillance footage reviewed by Reuters showed a person lying on the ground near a white van surrounded by officers.

Democratic Representative Sylvia Garcia called for an independent investigation, stating, “All available footage, communications, and other evidence should be preserved and reviewed.” Juan Proano of the League of United Latin American Citizens echoed this, saying, “We don’t take DHS at their word at all.”

At least six fatal shootings by federal immigration officers have occurred since President Donald Trump intensified immigration enforcement. The Houston incident comes amid a surge in ICE arrests, with about 2,000 migrants detained daily last week.

Source: www.aljazeera.com