Houston Prosecutor Reveals Substance Found in Immigrant’s Van Was Not Drugs

A recent development in the case of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant killed by an ICE agent in Houston, has surfaced. The top prosecutor in Houston announced that a substance found in Salgado Araujo’s work van tested negative for illicit drugs. This finding contradicts earlier claims by federal officials suggesting the vehicle contained meth.

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a construction worker residing in the U.S. for 35 years, was shot by an ICE officer on July 7. The officer claimed Salgado Araujo used his vehicle as a weapon during an attempted traffic stop, prompting a self-defense response. The men with Salgado Araujo, currently in ICE custody, dispute this claim.

Initially, the FBI filed a federal court affidavit claiming suspicion that Salgado Araujo’s van carried methamphetamine. Photos showed small bags with a white crystal substance that appeared meth-like to agents. However, on Friday, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare confirmed no narcotics were present.

“We can confirm the substance found in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s van tested negative for narcotics / illicit drugs,” stated Teare’s office. “We have notified Salgado Araujo’s family because we felt they had the right to know.”

Representatives for Salgado Araujo’s family consistently stated the substance was likely granulated salt. Construction workers often use such a mixture to create an electrolyte drink in hot weather. The FBI offered no comment on the results.

David Donatti, an attorney at ACLU of Texas representing the family, criticized the federal government’s approach. “Lorenzo Salgado Araujo should still be alive today, and nothing about the government’s so-called ‘search’ could have changed that fact,” he remarked. Donatti emphasized Salgado was a diligent worker helping to build homes in Houston.

Both the FBI and ICE’s internal oversight office are reviewing the shooting, initially investigated as a potential assault on an agent. Teare’s office is also conducting its own examination. Teare expressed readiness to prosecute ICE agents if criminal actions are found.

ICE indicated that Salgado Araujo was living in the U.S. without proper documentation but acknowledged he had no criminal record.

In an interview, Salgado Araujo’s sons described their father as dedicated and loving. “He was drawn by the promise that in America, if you put in the work, you’ll get paid what you deserve,” said Lorenzo Salgado Jr., highlighting his father’s desire to secure a brighter future for his family.