The Cost of Their Priorities
Just days after millions across the nation gathered to celebrate 250 years, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was on his way to work when he was stopped by immigration agents who were not wearing body cameras. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a hard-working family man who called the United States his home for the past 35 years, was shot and killed by ICE. DHS made a statement on Thursday revealing that Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was not the intended target.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo had been working as a builder in Houston for three decades. He had no criminal record. Salgado’s death marks the 10th fatal shooting by federal immigration officials nationwide since Donald Trump took office again. Reports show that in the first 500 days of Trump’s second administration, 52 people died in ICE custody. In this year alone, 21 people have died in ICE detention. Yet, Congress wants to give ICE and CBP $70 billion alone in one bill, with no accountability for the violence and fear they are inflicting on communities.
On Thursday, in response to the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a DHS spokesperson told NewsNation that “ICE law enforcement officers are trained to use the minimum amount of force necessary to resolve dangerous situations to prioritize the safety of the public and our officers. Officers are highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use-of-force training.”
Interestingly enough, it was found that in at least four cases, including Salgado’s, the victims were driving vehicles when they were targeted and shot. Four cases where ICE agents fired their weapons in “self-defense” because of the weaponization of a vehicle. Do they think we are not paying attention? Law enforcement officials are trained to move out of a car’s path, not shoot at a moving vehicle.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo did not deserve to die. His family did not deserve to discover this tragedy on social media, and then still face several hurdles to claim his body. Officials required Salgado’s wife to claim his body, but because she did not have legal immigration status, the family had to work with lawyers to give his son, Ronaldo, power of attorney so the family could claim their father’s body and have a funeral. They certainly have not made it easy for a grieving family.
ICE and DHS immediately claimed “self-defense” without releasing a single shred of footage because they had none. Family members, local officials, lawmakers, and civil rights groups are desperately attempting to learn more about Salgado’s death. According to Texas Representative Sylvia Garcia, the ICE officers involved were not wearing body cameras, nor were their cars equipped with dash cams. This is an injustice to Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and his family. This is an injustice to the people who have repeatedly begged for the enforcement of body cameras. This is an injustice to the whole idea of the American Dream. This is an injustice to us all. I have said it before. I will say it again. I will keep saying it: abolish ICE. But until then, ICE and CBP, like any other law enforcement agency, should operate with guardrails and oversight.
In case you missed it or need a reminder, just one month ago, Congressman Tom Cole proudly voted for the $70 billion immigration enforcement bill, which is a request to fund ICE/CBP for three years, effectively eliminating congressional oversight and effectively eliminating the ability for Congress to demand hold the agencies accountable — handing $38.5 billion to ICE and $26 billion to Border Patrol, claiming it would “keep our communities safe.” He proudly states, “Terrorists. Cartels. Human traffickers. Drug smugglers. Each day, ICE and Border Patrol agents and officers confront these threats head-on to keep America safe. It’s exactly why I have consistently voted to comprehensively resource these law enforcement professionals as they carry out their security missions.”
Cole ends by saying he is reminded that governing is a choice. He states, “The work I do, the votes I cast, and the actions I take will always be guided by one principle: fulfilling our obligations to the American people.” He’s right. Governing is a choice, and right now, Washington is choosing corruption and unchecked violence over real people.
Since Tom Cole has nothing to say, here is my stance. We don't need to fund a $70 billion political weapon. We need to launch a full investigation into ICE, including its leadership. We must ban them from wearing masks, from kidnapping people off our streets without a warrant. We must require them to disclose their identity, just like any law enforcement official. Families deserve immediate, mandatory release of body-camera footage within 48 hours of any federal shooting. We must tie federal funding directly to strict human rights compliance and structural oversight.
The truth is, if we want different priorities in Washington, we have to elect different people to represent us in Washington. We have to end the rubber-stamping of unchecked overreach and turn our frustration into action. Let's retire Tom Cole and flip this seat. I knew this was not going to be easy. That’s why this movement has been organizing since August. I knew going up against Tom Cole’s millions would be a challenge. That’s why I need your help. This movement was built and is completely fueled by small-dollar donors. I am not spending my time begging billionaires for money or being buttered up by special-interest dark money. I’ve been spending these past 11 months in the district meeting voters where they are. Tom Cole will spend millions trying to buy his seat, but if we all do our part, Oklahoma will not be conquered. I cannot win this fight alone, so I am asking: If you want to retire Tom Cole and send someone new to Washington, please contribute $26 a month or whatever you can spare. Every dollar puts us one step closer to victory.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s son, Ronaldo Salgado, said his father was a man of routine. He began his days the same way and always ended them by coming home. Tuesday, July 7th, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo did not come home. Monday, January 24th, Alex Pretti did not come home. Wednesday, January 7th, Renee Good did not come home, and instead of answers and accountability, all we are getting is deflection.
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Man fatally shot by ice in Houston was not intended target, DHS says. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2rm66xd17oNew terrifying levels’: 10 people fatally shot by immigration officials in Trump’s second term | Texas | The Guardian.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/09/ice-immigration-shooting-deaths-trumpMexico wants a criminal investigation after Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed by ICE in Houston. https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/border-coverage/mexico-criminal-investigation-deaths-ice/‘They haven’t made it easy’: Family of Houston man fatally shot by ICE says they’re unable to claim his body | Houston Public Media.https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/local/2026/07/10/556720/lorenzo-salgado-araujo-family-ice-shooting-houston-medical-examiner/Tom Cole Issues Statement after passage of $70B & Save America Act” immigration Bill. https://okcfox.com/news/local/tom-cole-issues-statement-after-passage-of-70b-save-america-act-immigration-bill