Rep. Haley Stevens Demands Independent Investigations into ICE Killings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, Johan Sebastian Guerrero

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens joined over 200 House Democrats in calling for independent investigations into Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastian Guerrero’s deaths and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) halt removal proceedings against the witnesses.

“Both of these incidents have created enormous fear and outrage in the community, and raise serious questions about the safety of community members, regardless of immigration status,” wrote the Members. “Far too many people, Americans and noncitizens alike, are dead as a result of DHS’s reckless actions. There must be accountability and independent investigations.”

The letter comes after Rep. Stevens called the killings “horrifying and outrageous” earlier this week, as well as her introduction of the Hold ICE Accountable Act which would establish a process to appoint a special prosecutor to review alleged illegal conduct by agents with the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  

DHS agents, including ICE agents, have shot at least 23 people since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. Six of these shootings have been fatal, resulting in the death of U.S. citizens and individuals who posed no public safety threat. In two previous shootings, ICE has claimed that victims were also “weaponizing” their vehicles, claims that have turned out to be false statements as evidence emerged.

In addition to the demands for an independent investigation and the commitment that witnesses to the killing of Mr. Salgado Araujo not be deported, the Members are asking for a detailed breakdown of all training materials and guidelines around vehicle stops. 

The full text of the letter to DHS Secretary Mullin and ICE Acting Director Venturella can be read here.

Stevens has been leading the fight to hold ICE accountable in Congress and to rein in Donald Trump’s repeated abuses of power during his Administration:

• Following leadership and direct action from Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens, ICE announced it will abandon plans to convert a warehouse in Romulus into an immigration detention center and instead sell the facility. 
• Stevens introduced the Hold ICE Accountable Act to establish an independent Special Prosecutor to investigate unlawful conduct by DHS personnel.
• Stevens called for the immediate removal of then-Secretary Kristi Noem and cosponsored an effort to impeach her in the House of Representatives. Following Noem’s removal, Stevens called on the Senate to delay confirmation of Noem’s successor unless ICE reforms were secured.
• Stevens and her Michigan colleague, Rep. Hillary Scholten, visited an ICE detention facility in Baldwin, Michigan, to tour conditions and demand answers to their letter over the death of detainee Nenko Gantchev in ICE custody in December. Following their visit, Stevens and Scholten doubled down on their demands for answers from ICE and Secretary Noem.
• Stevens cosponsored the PUBLIC SAFETY Act, a proposal to divert ICE’s $75 billion slush fund to state and local law enforcement agencies. Stevens also voted against the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which authorized the slush fund in the first place.
• Last year, Stevens cosponsored the VISIBLE Act to prohibit ICE agents from wearing masks and concealing their identities.
• Stevens joined over 100  of her colleagues in demanding that ICE end its surge of officers in Minnesota and conduct a thorough investigation into the death of Renee Nicole Good at the hands of an ICE agent.
• Stevens introduced the Stop Trump’s Abuse of Power Act, legislation to prevent the President from deploying the military against Americans without express consent from state officials, an authoritarian tactic this President has used repeatedly to fuel fear and intimidation during aggressive ICE crackdowns.
• Stevens voted against the Laken Riley Act, which would sweep thousands of people into jails and detention centers at enormous taxpayer expense while diverting key law enforcement resources and potentially violating civil liberties.

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