A man who was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during an enforcement operation in Houston was not the person agents had been attempting to arrest, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The revelation has sparked fresh questions about the circumstances surrounding the deadly incident and intensified calls for a transparent investigation.

The victim, identified as 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, was stopped by federal agents on Tuesday after officers mistakenly believed he matched the description of another individual they were searching for. DHS said agents were conducting an operation targeting two Guatemalan nationals when they encountered Salgado's work van near the suspects' location. Officials claim an ICE officer opened fire after Salgado allegedly attempted to drive toward an agent with his vehicle, describing the shooting as an act of self-defence.

However, the official account has been challenged by witnesses who were travelling in the van. Through their lawyer, the three passengers have disputed claims that Salgado attempted to run over an officer, insisting the shooting occurred without the threat described by federal authorities. The conflicting versions of events have added to growing scrutiny of the case, particularly as it has emerged that the ICE officers involved were not wearing body cameras during the operation.

Family members say Salgado had lived in the United States for more than three decades, worked in construction and had no violent criminal history. His relatives have described him as a hardworking father who was simply heading to work with colleagues when the fatal encounter unfolded. The revelation that he was not the intended target has fuelled anger among community leaders and immigrant rights groups, who argue the shooting highlights serious concerns over ICE's enforcement tactics.

The shooting is now being investigated by the DHS Office of Inspector General, while the FBI and local authorities are also reviewing the incident. Houston officials have called for all available evidence, including surveillance footage and communications from the operation, to be preserved as investigators seek to establish exactly what happened. Members of Congress have also demanded greater transparency from DHS, including explanations over why officers were not equipped with body cameras.

As the investigation continues, the case has become one of the most closely watched immigration enforcement incidents in the United States this year, with mounting pressure on federal authorities to provide a full public account of the events that led to Salgado's death.