- Protests continue in Houston demanding justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican man shot dead by an ICE agent this month.
- Protesters marched from Ervan Chew Park and briefly shut down a bridge on Dunlavy Street, according to local media and videos posted online.
- They held banners that read, “Abolish ICE” and “Justice for Lorenzo”.
- Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican national, was fatally shot by an ICE agent on July 7 while driving his construction crew to a job site in Houston.
- The protests come amid mounting scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown.
- According to The Associated Press, encounters with ICE and other immigration agents have resulted in at least 10 deaths since the start of Trump’s second term in January last year.
- After the shooting, ICE claimed Salgado Araujo had used his vehicle to try to ram an agent, but witnesses contradicted this version of events.
- An activist at the protest called for further protests to shut down the city of Houston, stating, 'We cannot just sit here and let ICE hunt and murder more of our daughters, our brothers, our uncles.'
- The activist announced that the shutdown of Houston, the fourth largest city in the US, will take place on Friday.
Protests in Houston have intensified following the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican national, by an ICE agent on July 7. Demonstrators demand accountability, asserting that ICE's narrative of self-defense is contradicted by eyewitness accounts.14
Salgado Araujo was shot while driving his construction crew to a job site. ICE claimed he attempted to ram an agent, but witnesses dispute this account. A statement from the US attorney for the Southern District of Texas did not support ICE's version, raising questions about the agency's conduct.7
The protests reflect broader discontent with the Trump administration's immigration policies, which have resulted in at least 10 deaths since January 2020, including two fatalities shortly after Salgado Araujo's death. Activists are calling for a city-wide shutdown to further pressure authorities.69
Democratic lawmakers are demanding investigations into ICE's hiring practices, particularly after allegations surfaced regarding the violent history of an officer involved in another recent shooting. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi congressman, emphasized the need for scrutiny of ICE's vetting processes.
In response to the growing backlash, ICE announced a temporary pause on traffic stops and plans to implement body cameras during such encounters. However, President Trump remains steadfast in his support for traffic stops as a critical enforcement tool, stating, “We must be strong, tough, and smart”.
The protests in Houston are part of a larger movement against ICE's practices, as communities demand justice and accountability for those affected by aggressive immigration enforcement.
“The protests come as at least 10 people have died during ICE encounters since Trump's second term, with two additional killings occurring in Maine and Florida after Salgado Araujo's death. An activist called for a 'shutdown' of Houston on Friday, saying 'we need to show ICE and the Trump administration that Houston is not to be messed with.'”
