After months of secrecy, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who shot and killed Texas native Lorenzo Salgado Araujo has been identified and named.
According to the Texas Tribune, reporters were able to identify the agent based on witness statements and have decided to publish his name to encourage transparency and an independent federal investigation into the incident.
This comes after Salgado was shot and killed in Houston by an ICE agent, sparking national controversy over how the agency is conducting immigration enforcement.
“We are publishing because we believe transparency in the case is of vital public interest as investigators, lawmakers and the public seek to understand what happened and how ICE operates more broadly in this state,” the Tribune wrote.
Representative Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), who has remained a firm advocate for answers on behalf of the Salgado family, said publicizing the agent’s name is “basic when it comes to transparency.”
“In Lorenzo's case, journalists had to do the work that our federal government failed to do. That's precisely why we have the First Amendment,” Rep. Garcia said on X. “ICE is an agency that acts on its own and cannot be trusted within our communities. “
Rep. Garcia added that although this may provide some answers, the fight for justice is far from over.
“We need a real independent investigation. We need all evidence released, and we need real accountability,” Rep. Garcia said on the House floor earlier this month.
This comes a few days after another man was shot and injured by an ICE agent in Austin. Lawmakers from both sides have since continued to call for transparency and accountability regarding the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown.
“We need justice for Mr. Salgado, and we need justice for all those killed at the hands of ICE, or those in the custody of ICE,” Rep. Garcia said.
