Great job as always by Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA11), who – as he said on WAMU’s Politics Hour earlier this afternoon (see audio, below) – is in Houston, “listening to Lorenzo and Ronaldo Salgado Araujo Jr., two of the sons of the gentleman who was killed recently by ICE.” As Rep. Walkinshaw added,
“We’re here, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee, holding a a field hearing around that terrible, terrible incident…I wanted to to look into the eyes of these two young men and experience their pain and their anger so I can take it back with me to Washington, hopefully communicate it to my colleagues who aren’t here. We’re also hearing from the the district attorney here in Harris County who is working to to try to conduct an investigation into this shooting with little or no cooperation from ICE or the Department of Homeland Security or FBI and local officials. You know, just like I went to Minnesota after Renee Good was killed. I want to see and hear what these communities are experiencing at the hands of ICE.”
Also, see below for video and a transcript of Rep. Walkinshaw speaking to Lorenzo and Ronaldo Salgado Araujo Jr., and repeating the question he was asked by Lorenzo and Ronaldo, “How many more of our dads have to die?” – also ” How many more of our mothers have to die?
Rep. James Walkinshaw:“How many more of our dads have to die? Lorenzo and Ronaldo asked us that question. How many more of our mothers have to die?
I appreciate all of the witnesses today. You all have provided valuable insights and information. But I came across the country to see Ronaldo and Lorenzo, to look into your eyes and to see your pain and your anger so that I can take it back to Washington and communicate it to my colleagues. But I also saw your resolve.
You know, I left I left my house this morning in Virginia. It was early in the morning. It was dark. My 5-year-old son was asleep. Went into his bedroom. I kissed him on the forehead and I said, ‘Daddy will be home tonight.’
And I will, but your father didn’t make it home. Juan Sebastian Guerrero didn’t make it home. Renee Good didn’t make it home.
And Ronaldo and Lorenzo. When you’re a dad, you’re always kind of wondering, are you doing a good job? Your dad probably asked himself that, but as I listen to you and see you, it’s very clear he did a hell of a job. And I know that he is very, very proud of you.
Recently, members of the Homeland Security Committee had a closed dooror briefing from ICE on their use of force policies. Republicans not willing to have an open hearing with ICE under oath to discuss those policies. But one of the things we learned astoundingly to me at least was that from January of 2025 to today, 18 months, only one single solitary ICE officer has been disciplined for violating their use-of-force policies. one officer. 22,000 ICE officers now. Thousands of violent encounters. Six deaths. One officer has been disciplined. That tells me this is an agency where accountability has broken down and an agency that is broken.
Rep. Walkinshaw: And I want to ask Councilman Martinez, a year ago today, I was a local government elected official like yourself, you with your colleagues have an oversight responsibility of the Houston Police Department. Does that sound remotely plausible to you that there can be 22,000 officers involved in thousands of encounters, many violent, that only once an ICE officer could have violated the agency’s use of force policies in 18 months?
Councilman Martinez: “Congressman, no. The Houston Police Department is a professional trained organization and something like that would not happen locally.”
Rep. Walkinshaw: “And if the chief of police of the Houston Police Department came before your council and said that, what would you say to him?”
Councilman Martinez: “I would we would definitely be putting limitations of what he can do.”
Rep. Walkinshaw: “D.A Teare, I presume have been involved in investigations of officer involved shootings and use of force violations. What do you think about that? 22,000 officers, one disciplined by the agency in 18 months?
Houston D.A. Sean Teare: As Council Member Martinez said, the HPD is a good example. There are almost 6,000 sworn officers there. In an 18-month period through an academy that is so rigorous, through a training program that is rigorous, we see more than that come across criminally in the D.A.’s office because the agency holds those officers accountable and they strive for accountability. It stretches everything beyond comprehension to suggest that just once there’s been an issue.
Rep. Walkinshaw: “Okay. Thank you both. Lorenzo, Ronaldo, thank you for your courage, for your voice in this important moment. You are doing an incredible service to your nation and I thank you for it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
