Immigration attorney in deadly ICE shooting case declines comment on felony assault case after court hearing

HOUSTON - The immigration attorney representing two witnesses in the deadly ICE shooting on Canal Street is facing a legal battle of his own in Harris County. [Click2Houston]

Federal lawmakers descended on Houston on Friday to examine the circumstances surrounding the July 7 fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus and House Homeland Security Committee conducted an oversight hearing titled "Seeking Justice" at Harris County Commissioners Court, where they received accounts from the victim's relatives, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, religious leaders and advocates from the community.

Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican national who had resided in the United States for approximately 35 years, was struck and killed during an encounter in Houston's East End neighborhood. According to his family, he was in the early stages of securing a work authorization document and was on the verge of achieving legal residency status. At the time of the incident, they said he was transporting construction workers to a job site. Three additional men occupied the vehicle during the shooting.

Federal authorities initially stated that ICE officers were seeking to detain two Guatemalan nationals believed to be subject to removal proceedings who were traveling in a similarly configured van. Officials claimed the officer discharged his weapon in self-defense after Salgado Araujo accelerated his vehicle toward agents, disregarded commands and posed an imminent threat to personnel at the scene. The agency characterized his vehicle as a weapon in the confrontation.

The family and legal representatives for the three passengers have contested the government's version of events, with attorneys for the men inside the van asserting that the account provided by the Department of Homeland Security did not align with what occurred. Salgado Araujo's relatives have demanded increased disclosure regarding the ongoing investigation. U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia and other members of the Hispanic caucus previously called for an independent comprehensive examination of the shooting and criticized investigative procedures to date.

Meanwhile, the immigration attorney representing two witnesses from inside the van is navigating his own legal difficulties in Harris County. Hugo Balderas-Ibarra, who operates under a probationary license since January, faced a court appearance Wednesday on felony assault charges related to an allegation involving a former romantic partner. He has never obtained full licensure in Texas, though he maintains standing in New Mexico's legal profession. One week prior to the Harris County proceeding, Balderas-Ibarra accepted a plea agreement in Florida for misdemeanor battery, following which he posted on social media that he intended to "put this behind us and focus on the real issues." Texas bar disciplinary guidelines specify that conviction of a serious criminal offense may trigger mandatory discipline, potentially including disbarment if imprisonment was imposed without probation. Balderas-Ibarra's next scheduled court date in Harris County is set for two weeks out.