Dozens of people gathered this Tuesday in Foley Square, in lower Manhattan, to demand justice for the deaths of immigrants Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastián Guerrero, who died in separate incidents during operations by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE). The demonstration brought together immigrant rights organizations, activists and residents who demanded a thorough investigation into both cases and questioned the tactics used by the federal agency.

With banners with messages such as “Justice for Lorenzo, Johan and all the victims of ICE,” attendees expressed their solidarity with the families of the deceased and denounced what they consider an increase in the use of force during immigration operations. Throughout the rally, slogans in favor of immigrant communities and calls to reform or even eliminate the federal agency were also heard.

The protests arose after Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican citizen and father of three, died on July 7 in Houston, Texas, during an ICE operation. Days later, on Monday, Johan Sebastián Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian father of a girl, died after another confrontation with agents in Biddeford, Maine.

They demand independent investigations into both cases

Various pro-immigrant groups, including the New York Immigration Coalition and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, led the call and requested that federal investigations determine whether the agents involved acted in accordance with established protocols.

Organizers also remembered other people who died this year during actions related to ICE, including Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, whose cases have also raised questions about the use of force by immigration authorities.

During the protest, several participants stated that the recent deaths reflect the need to review immigration enforcement policies. Some protesters called for the abolition of ICE, while others insisted that those responsible face legal consequences if investigations conclude there was excessive use of force.

Federal authorities maintain that in both cases the agents fired when they considered there was an immediate risk to public safety. According to the official version, Salgado Araujo tried to use his vehicle as a weapon during the operation in Texas, while Guerrero allegedly accelerated his car towards the agents when he tried to leave the scene in Maine.

Pressure grows on ICE for its operations

The demonstrations were not limited to New York. Rallies were also held in Boston where attendees demanded justice for both immigrants and demanded greater supervision over the actions of ICE. The governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, expressed concern about recent events and reiterated her rejection of increasing immigration operations on the city's streets. The president indicated that she does not want to see more people detained on public roads or for new deaths to occur during this type of interventions.

Meanwhile, various US media reported that ICE had temporarily suspended most vehicle inspections after the recent shootings. However, the Department of Homeland Security avoided confirming that information, saying only that the agency constantly evaluates its procedures to protect both its agents and the public.

Federal investigations into both cases remain open. Meanwhile, immigrant advocacy organizations announced that they will maintain the mobilizations and continue to press for answers about the circumstances in which Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastián Guerrero died, as well as to demand greater transparency in the immigration operations carried out in the United States.