DOJ unseals FBI search warrant in ICE shooting case, prompting criticism

Federal prosecutors disclosed a search warrant that described crystal-like substances found in a van driven by Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was shot by ICE officers during a traffic stop in Houston. The warrant, originally filed under seal, was made public the day after it was issued, a move described by former federal prosecutor Elie Honig as "absolutely abnormal" and unprecedented in an active investigation.

ICE maintains that Salgado Araujo "rammed an ICE law enforcement vehicle, refused to follow multiple verbal commands, and weaponized his vehicle" before an officer shot him in self-defense. No body-camera footage exists, and passengers in the van dispute the claim that they attempted to ram officers.

The affidavit accompanying the warrant said the white, crystal-like material in small plastic bags resembled methamphetamine, though Salgado Araujo’s family lawyer, Ruby Powers, argues the bags likely contained a homemade electrolyte mix. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare also expressed doubt that the substances were drugs and criticized the unsealing, suggesting the FBI may not have fully processed the vehicle for evidence.

The unsealing has drawn accusations from immigration rights groups that the Justice Department is attempting to influence public perception. Domingo Garcia, president of LULAC Adelante PAC, said the action could "prejudice a jury" and resembles a "smear campaign." The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas declined to comment on the decision to unseal the warrant.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General continues its own probe into the officer’s use of deadly force, and it has not indicated that knowledge of any drugs influenced the shooting. The case remains under investigation, with federal authorities stating they are seeking the truth while urging the public to allow the process to proceed.