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Victor Salgado Araujo held 54 days by ICE as witness to agent's killing of his brother

Aug 31, 2026·Location: Houston, TX

Country of origin: Mexico

Victor Salgado Araujo held 54 days by ICE as witness to agent's killing of his brother
Photo via english.elpais.com

Victor Salgado Araujo, 44, was detained by ICE on July 7, 2026, after witnessing an ICE agent fatally shoot his brother, Houston homebuilder Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, while the two drove their construction crew to a job site. He was held for 54 days at the Montgomery ICE Processing Center, where he missed his brother's funeral. The three detained witnesses filed habeas petitions and sought U visas, and reported pressure from ICE to self-deport while in custody. Victor was released in late August 2026, the last of the three witnesses freed, and reunited with his family. His attorney said he is expected to testify before the Harris County grand jury investigating the shooting while pursuing a U visa and facing separate removal proceedings.

Timeline

Aug 31, 2026—Released from the Montgomery ICE Processing Center after 54 days, the last of the three detained witnesses freed as the case moves toward a grand jury
Jul 7, 2026—Victor Salgado Araujo detained by ICE after witnessing an agent fatally shoot his brother Lorenzo while riding in his van
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