Jayapal Statement on Killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo

SEATTLE, WA - U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, released the following statement on the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.

"Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was simply on his way to work when ICE shot and killed him. He had lived in Houston for 35 years, working construction, helping to build the city and take care of his family. His U.S. citizen children learned of his death through a social media video. The cruelty is unimaginable.

"We absolutely cannot trust ICE to conduct a fair and impartial investigation. ICE has consistently lied about similar incidents with Renee Good and Alex Pretti. They have refused to share information with local law enforcement to properly investigate what happened. ICE officials drive in unmarked cars with masks on to hide their identity, acting like a rogue militia and causing fear and confusion in those they target. This is not how any law enforcement should operate, much less those who are tasked with enforcing civil immigration law.

"There must immediately be a thorough and independent investigation. And we must immediately institute real accountability on this rogue agency that is killing innocent civilians in the streets, kidnapping and disappearing people of all immigration statuses and inflicting terror on our cities across the country. This is exactly why I refused to give ICE another cent of funding, and it is why we will not rest until we rein in this completely unaccountable agency."

Issues: Immigration