July 9, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Alabama — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) unequivocally condemns the actions taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement  (ICE) agents in Houston that led to the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and demands a full independent investigation into the circumstances that led to his death.

“Wherever ICE goes, aggressive encounters with community members follow,” said A.J. Hernandez Anderson, deputy legal director, SPLC. “We have repeatedly seen vulnerable communities, particularly Latino residents, targeted and subjected to unconscionable violence during ICE’s large-scale operations across multiple cities.”

“In the aftermath of these atrocities, we have also seen ICE and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attempt to misconstrue facts to justify their unjustifiable use of lethal force with statements that are later proven to be false,” added Hernandez Anderson. “For this reason, we demand a transparent investigation into Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s death to seek justice for him and his family. DHS and ICE must be held accountable for their unchecked violence, lack of regard for dignity, failure to ensure due process and repeated violations of civil and human rights.”

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About the Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people. For more information, visit www.splcenter.org.

Source: Southern Poverty Law Center