Following Another ICE Killing, COPAL Calls for Accountability Six Months After Renée Good’s Death
Minneapolis, MN — COPAL mourns the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and extends our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, and community as they carry the weight of this profound loss.
On July 7, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was fatally shot and killed by an ICE agent during an immigration enforcement operation in Houston, Texas. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s family, elected officials, and civil rights organizations are calling for an independent investigation of the killing.
“Exactly six months after Renee Good was killed, another family is searching for answers. That should stop all of us in our tracks,” said Francisco Segovia, Executive Director of COPAL. “We cannot allow these tragedies to become routine or accepted as the cost of our immigration system. Every family deserves the truth, transparency, and accountability”
Across the country, immigrant communities have witnessed instances in which initial federal enforcement narratives were later contradicted by independent investigations, eyewitness testimony, or video evidence. Families are left demanding basic answers. In moments like this, public trust requires more than internal review; it requires commitment to ensuring that no agency operates above accountability.
COPAL calls for:
- A full, independent, and transparent investigation into the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.
- The prompt public release of all available evidence, including body camera footage, surveillance video, and other relevant records, if they exist.
- Accountability if the investigation finds wrongdoing.
- Immigration policies that prioritize due process, human dignity, and community safety.
As organizations, advocates, and community members seek answers, we stand with Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s family and everyone mourning this devastating loss. We also stand with immigrant families across the country who continue to live with uncertainty, wondering whether a routine drive, a trip to work, or an ordinary day could end in tragedy.
A strong democracy requires institutions that are transparent, accountable, and responsive to the people they serve.
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COPAL Minnesota is a member-based organization driven to improve the quality of life for Minnesota’s Latine communities. For more information, please visit www.copalmn.org.
