The family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo has not been able to recover the body of the immigrant who died in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, because his wife is undocumented, so one of the sons is evaluating how to do it.

"Unfortunately, she is undocumented, and we are working with the family and with lawyers to obtain a power of attorney so that Ronaldo can go claim his father's life. They have not made it easy for us. They have made it very, very difficult for the family," said Juan Proaño, director of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

Ronaldo, one of Lorenzo's three children, would be present at a virtual conference about the case, but Proaño indicated that he could not due to the stress of the situation, in addition to revealing that the family has also received attacks on social networks.

“He saw many messages and hate speeches against his father,” Proaño lamented. "He also received text messages stating that his father deserved this treatment and that he deserved to be shot and separated from his family. That is why we are now calling and demanding the delivery of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's body."

Proaño indicated that federal authorities took 24 hours to reveal that the immigrant – who had been living in the United States for 35 years – had died after his encounter with immigration agents in Houston, Texas.

He added that when they took him to the hospital they took away his identification, so he was admitted as a stranger.

“This triggered a series of problems, a series of additional obstacles that the family has had to overcome, starting with the fact that they have had to obtain biometric information from their family to confirm their identity,” he explained. "They knew from the beginning that it was Lorenzo. They did not confirm his death until more than 24 hours after the incident and the shooting."

Lorenzo's death occurred last Tuesday morning, after he was intercepted by ICE agents after picking up his workers, shortly after 6 a.m. The authority claims that Lorenzo used the vehicle against them. The events occurred in Houston's East End, near Magnolia Park.

Seeking an independent autopsy

The family seeks to recover the body to give Lorenzo a dignified burial, in addition to allowing an independent autopsy to be performed to explain the reason for his death.

“He deserves a dignified funeral, enough time for the family to grieve,” Proaño added. “In addition, we are making the necessary arrangements to schedule an independent autopsy, regardless of what the city may do with the body.”

To achieve a fair and independent investigation from that carried out by the FBI, the family's advocates asked local authorities to preserve all evidence, body camera recordings, vehicle recordings, official records, photographs, about the incident.

The organizations, supported by activist and content creator Carlos Eduardo Espina, are promoting the collection of signatures to press for a fair and independent investigation. So far, almost 135,000 signatures have been added, in just two days.

They ask for the return of personal belongings

The family also demands the return of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's belongings, including his work equipment, which is worth thousands of dollars.

“We also request the return of his personal belongings, including his vehicle and equipment, his wallet, all of his personal items, the vehicle and equipment, which represent thousands of dollars for his small business, on which his employees depend,” Proaño added.

The family created a GoFundMe account that has raised more than $250,000 dollars, “to cover funeral and legal expenses, and to support the wife, who has been left without the only breadwinner for her family,” Proaño added.

Representatives of the coalition Hector Sanchez Barba, president and director of Mi Familia Vota, participated in the virtual conference; Janet Murguia, president and director of UnidosUS Action Fund, and Katharine Pichardo, president and director of Latino Victory Project.