LDF Calls for Transparency in Police Killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo

Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents fatally shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Latino man in Houston, Texas. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Mr. Araujo was not the target of enforcement operations. DHS's Inspector General is investigating the shooting. Harris County District Attorney, Sean Teare, is investigating the shooting and stated that his office had not been allowed access to key evidence.

Jin Hee Lee, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Legal Defense Fund, issued the following statement in response:

"For over 30 years, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo lived, worked, and built a life with his family in the United States, trying to achieve the American dream. In one fatal moment, ICE shattered this dream and the lives of his family by killing Mr. Araujo. Once again, ICE's use of fatal force has left a wake of devastation. This is a direct consequence of the Trump administration's cruel and irresponsible immigration policies. The apparentrefusal to cooperate with local law enforcement entities is an affront to transparency and justice.

"The fatal shooting of Mr. Araujo was preceded by a series of decisions and investments into violent enforcement activities that place countless communities and their neighbors in the line of danger, even at risk of losing their lives. Tragedies like this are completely avoidable and would not occur but for ICE's roving operations in peaceful communities, racial profiling of immigrants and residents of color, and unchecked escalations to violence. Abuses by ICE and other DHS agencies will not abate until they are deprived of the funding and powers that contribute to this type of wanton violence.

"We call for a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into Mr. Araujo's death, as well as DHS's full cooperation with state and local authorities. Our hearts go out to his family and his community as they endure this heartbreaking tragedy."

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Founded in 1940, theLegal Defense Fund (LDF)is the nation's first civil rights legalorganization. LDF has beencompletely separatefrom the National Association for theAdvancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957, though it was founded under theleadership of Thurgood Marshall while he was at the NAACP. LDF's Thurgood Marshall Institute (TMI) is a division of LDF that undertakes innovative research and houses LDF'sarchive. In all media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF (do not include NAACP) and refer to the Institute as LDF's Thurgood Marshall Institute or TMI.