The U.S. Department of Homeland Security acknowledged that Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was not the intended target of the operation that ended in his death on 7 July in Houston. Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican national who had lived in the United States for nearly three decades, was fatally shot during a traffic stop while driving workers to a construction site.
DHS stated the officer fired in self-defense, but witnesses disputed that account, saying Araujo never aimed his vehicle at agents and that shots came from the side. The agent was not wearing a body camera. DHS said the stop was initiated after agents spotted a white van carrying someone resembling their actual target.
Mexico's Foreign Ministry, citing 14 Mexican deaths in ICE custody and three during arrests, said it would file criminal complaints. Four Democratic lawmakers demanded an independent investigation, with Congressman Christian Menefee blaming Republican opposition for the lack of body cameras. The FBI and DHS have opened parallel investigations.