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Nearly every member of the House Democratic Caucus signed onto a letter demanding an independent investigation into two fatal shootings carried out in the span of a week by officers at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“We are calling for immediate independent investigations into both of these deaths, without interference,” the lawmakers wrote, referring to the killings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston and Joan Guerrero in Maine.
“Both of these incidents have created enormous fear and outrage in the community, and raise serious questions about the safety of community members, regardless of immigration status,” they wrote, pointing to 22 shootings by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers under the Trump administration, six of which were fatal.
The letter, signed by 198 Democrats, was spearheaded by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and joined by Democratic leadership as well as the lawmakers who represent the districts where the shootings occurred.
The letter notes the disputes between ICE accounts of the shootings and witness statements and video evidence that have since emerged.
Three men were passengers in the van when Salgado Araujo was shot and have said ICE’s assertion that he weaponized his vehicle is completely false.
“All three of these men have independently disputed ICE’s account and stated that Mr. Salgado Araujo did not try to ram any agents with the van. Now, reports are emerging that these men—eyewitnesses to the shooting who can provide essential evidence to investigators—have been placed in removal proceedings. This is completely unacceptable,” the lawmakers wrote.
“DHS claims that Mr. Guerrero merely attempted to flee in a vehicle, and that an ICE officer shot him out of concern for “public safety.” DHS does not allege the officer feared for his safety. Video footage shows officers handcuffing Mr. Guerrero and throwing him on the street, even after shooting him in the head.
The letter said DHS has a pattern of making “unsubstantiated allegations” across numerous shootings, pointing to Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who people in Minneapolis who were killed in separate incidents while they were protesting federal immigration enforcement efforts. Video evidence contradicted DHS claims in each of their deaths.
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