Dispute Over Substance Found in Van of Mexican Man Killed by ICE Agent
Family attorneys say the white crystals seized from the victim's vehicle were a homemade electrolyte mix, not methamphetamine, while federal officials maintain the original drug claim.
A 52-year-old Mexican construction worker who had lived in the United States for 35 years was shot in the abdomen by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Houston on July 7. Federal investigators obtained a search warrant for his van after alleging that plastic bags contained a "white crystal-like substance" they identified as methamphetamine.
Family lawyer Ruby L. Powers told CNN that the substance was a homemade electrolyte mixture made from salt and lemon, used to hydrate workers in extreme heat. "He puts it in a water bottle and makes his own Gatorade, an electrolyte mix," Powers said, adding that the family was concerned the public release of the warrant could influence opinion before toxicology results were available.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare also expressed doubt about the drug allegation, stating that information about the van's passengers made the presence of illegal drugs appear inconsistent.
U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz said ICE agents were initially pursuing a different suspect, and that the van fled before being stopped later that morning. According to Reitz, when officers ordered the driver to park, the vehicle moved while an officer was partially inside, prompting an agent to fire a single shot.
Witnesses contest that account, saying officers did not identify themselves and that the shot entered through the front passenger window.
Labor advocates note that mixing salt into water is a common practice among outdoor workers to stay hydrated, with Laura Perez-Boston of the Workers Defense Project Fund confirming that many construction workers prepare their own drinks rather than purchasing commercial sports beverages.