 July 13, 2026
Media Contact: info@haitianbridge.org; media@haitianbridge.org
SAN DIEGO, CA–-Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) demands a full, independent investigation into the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent in Houston and calls for complete transparency and accountability from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Reports indicate that Mr. Salgado Araujo was not the intended target of the operation, raising serious concerns about ICE’s tactics, use of force, and disregard for human life, especially Black and brown immigrants. This tragedy is not an isolated incident; at least 50 people have died in ICE custody or during ICE enforcement operations. These deaths point to a deeply troubling pattern of violence, neglect, and a lack of accountability that demands immediate action Haitian Bridge Alliance calls on the Department of Justice to immediately launch an independent investigation, publicly release all available evidence, and hold accountable anyone found to have violated the law or agency policy. No federal law enforcement agency should be permitted to investigate itself without meaningful independent oversight. “The killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo is not simply another tragedy—it is part of a deeply troubling pattern of violence and impunity that has become synonymous with ICE enforcement,” said Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance. “Far too many people have died during interactions with ICE. Communities are living in fear, families are being devastated, and accountability remains elusive. We cannot continue to accept a system that repeatedly produces these outcomes. It is past time to abolish ICE and replace it with an immigration system rooted in due process, transparency, human dignity, and respect for life.” Haitian Bridge Alliance stands in solidarity with the Salgado family and every family that has lost a loved one during immigration enforcement operations. |