The family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Houston, Texas, has called for a full investigation into the incident. Salgado Araujo, who had lived in the U.S. for 35 years, was reportedly working toward obtaining legal status.

According to relatives, Salgado Araujo was driving a crew to a construction site when he was stopped by unmarked vehicles. The family suggested he may have feared the individuals were attempting to steal his tools, as he had no criminal record and was a hardworking father of three U.S. citizen sons.

"He did not deserve to die. He did not deserve to be reduced to a headline of 'Mexican man shot and killed by ICE'," said his son, Ronaldo Salgado, during a press conference. He described his father as a job creator who supported dozens of workers seeking the American dream.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed Salgado Araujo attempted to ram an ICE agent after striking an ICE vehicle, prompting the agent to open fire. No video of the shooting has been released, though bystander footage of the aftermath exists.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the killing, stating she is considering legal action or an appeal to the United Nations. She noted that the victim's only "offense" was lacking proper documentation.

Rights groups have accused immigration authorities of using dragnet tactics to meet detention quotas under the Trump regime's crackdown. This incident marks at least the eighth known death during encounters with federal immigration officers since the start of the administration's enforcement surge.

Source: www.aljazeera.com