Vigils Across the U.S. Call for ICE Accountability After Deadly Shootings

On Saturday, July 25, more than 135 communities across the United States are set to hold vigils, protests, and demonstrations in response to recent deadly incidents involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The events aim to demand justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, Johan Sebastian Guerrero, and other individuals who have lost their lives due to ICE actions. Participants will gather to mourn, pray, and protest against the agency's practices.

The planned vigils follow two high-profile shootings in July. On July 7, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was fatally shot by an ICE agent while driving a work van in Houston. A week later, on July 13, Johan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old man from Biddeford, Maine, was killed by ICE agents as his wife and toddler watched helplessly. Both men were well-regarded members of their communities who died en route to work.

Since these incidents, two more individuals have been killed in Florida and Georgia due to ICE operations. These tragic events have sparked widespread outrage among community members, leading them to organize large-scale protests demanding transparency and accountability from the federal agency.

Organizers are calling for immediate action on several fronts. They demand that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) release key witnesses involved in Lorenzo's death and halt their deportation proceedings so they can participate safely in any investigation or legal process. Additionally, protesters are urging full, independent investigations into these killings, involving cooperation from all law enforcement agencies to ensure accountability for misconduct.

The broader call is for ICE to be removed entirely from communities across the nation. Protesters advocate that state and local leaders should cease using public resources to support federal immigration enforcement and demand the removal of ICE agents from city streets. This includes a push for DHS to withdraw all ICE personnel from urban areas, with cities and states halting any coordination with the agency.

The day of action is being organized by volunteers, families, community groups, and national organizations such as Public Citizen, the National Day Laborers Organizing Network (NDLON), The Workers Circle, Detention Watch Network, and League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). These efforts underscore a growing movement for nonviolent protest against ICE's actions and their perceived threat to public safety.

These vigils highlight the increasing tension between federal immigration policies and local community values. As more incidents come to light, protesters are demanding systemic changes that prioritize human rights and community well-being over enforcement measures.