Salt Not Meth: Attorney Disputes Drug Claim in ICE Shooting

The substance found in the van of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old construction worker fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on July 7 in Houston, has been identified by his family's attorney as a homemade electrolyte mix, not methamphetamine. The attorney, Ruby L. Powers, stated that the "white crystal-like substance" found in plastic bags within the van was a mixture of salt and lemon used to create a hydrating drink, similar to Gatorade, for use in the extreme Texas heat.

Federal investigators had obtained a warrant to search Salgado Araujo's van based on the belief that the substance was methamphetamine. However, the attorney's clarification challenges this assertion, emphasizing that the family sought to clear Salgado Araujo's name. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare also expressed skepticism about the drug claims, finding them inconsistent with other information gathered about the van's occupants.

The fatal shooting itself is subject to conflicting accounts. ICE agents stated they pursued Salgado Araujo's van after it fled an attempted traffic stop. The official report indicates an agent fired a single shot when the driver shifted the vehicle in reverse and forward while an officer was near or inside. However, witnesses told a congresswoman that the officers did not identify themselves and that the shot was fired directly through the passenger window.

Advocates for outdoor laborers confirm that mixing salt and water is a common practice for hydration in high temperatures. The three passengers who survived the incident remain in federal detention, with concerns raised about their potential deportation before the investigation concludes. Local officials are seeking U visas for these witnesses to ensure their cooperation with law enforcement.