DALLAS, TX — The League of Women Voters of Dallas joins our neighbors in Houston in mourning the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was fatally shot by a federal immigration officer on the morning of July 7 while on his way to work. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, his three sons, and all who loved him.
The League of Women Voters has long held that all persons, regardless of immigration status, are entitled to fair treatment under the law and to due process, including the right to a fair hearing, the right to counsel, and the right to humane treatment. These are not partisan values. They are constitutional guarantees that belong to everyone in our community.
Earlier this year, the League of Women Voters of the United States affirmed that "the rights outlined in the Constitution belong to all people, without exception," and called for federal immigration officials to cooperate with the appropriate level of law enforcement and face accountability when civilians are hurt or killed. The League of Women Voters of Dallas stands on that position today.
We join community organizations and elected officials across Texas in calling for a prompt, independent, and transparent investigation, and the preservation and release of all evidence. All of Texas deserves answers.
Public trust in government depends on transparency and accountability, in every agency, at every level. When residents fear the institutions meant to serve them, civic participation suffers, and our democracy is weaker for it.
The League of Women Voters of Dallas is a nonpartisan organization. We do not support or oppose candidates or political parties. We do, and always will, stand for the constitutional rights and human dignity of every member of our community.
Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
Ashley Washington