Family of man killed by ICE agent seeks answers after shooting

The family of a man shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent this week says he was months away from obtaining a work permit and is demanding an independent investigation into the fatal encounter.

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo died Tuesday after being shot during what federal authorities described as a targeted enforcement operation involving agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to ICE, agents attempted to stop Salgado Araujo's vehicle during the operation when he allegedly tried to evade arrest, struck an ICE vehicle, and ignored commands to stop. The agency said Salgado Araujo then drove toward an agent, prompting the officer to fire his weapon in what officials described as self-defense.

Salgado Araujo was transported to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

In the days following the shooting, Salgado Araujo's family said they have received no direct communication from ICE or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and remain uncertain about what happened.

"They haven't sent anyone to speak to me or my family," his son, Ronaldo Salgado, told ABC News. "We still don't have any answers."

Ronaldo Salgado said he reviewed video footage showing vehicles pursuing his father's work van and believes his father may not have realized the unmarked vehicles belonged to federal agents.

He said his father had previously experienced theft involving his work van and tools and had become protective of the vehicle as a result.

"One of my dad's biggest fears was for his work van and tools to be stolen," Ronaldo Salgado said.

The family described Salgado Araujo as a hardworking father whose primary goal was to provide opportunities for his three sons before pursuing his version of the American dream.

According to his sons, the family began the process of obtaining a work permit for Salgado Araujo in January 2025 and was told the application process could take up to 18 months.

They said he had completed paperwork, attended appointments, and recently submitted fingerprints as part of the final stages of the application.

"He was excited about that," Ronaldo Salgado said.

The family said they are now left searching for answers about why Salgado Araujo became the target of the operation.

"My dad had no criminal history," Ronaldo Salgado said. "He wasn't doing anything illegal. He was picking up his workers to go to work."

Federal authorities have not announced whether an outside agency will review the shooting, and the family continues to call for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Salgado Araujo's death.