The Republican running for Harris County commissioner weighs in
By Orlando Sanchez | Aug 12, 2026 | Houston Chronicle
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo left for work on July 7 and did not come home.
Before we say another word, we should stop long enough to say something simple and human — a man is dead, a family is grieving, and Houston owes them the truth.
I am an immigrant. My family came to this country fleeing government oppression in Cuba. We came here because America was different. America was not perfect, but it was free. It was a place where the law was supposed to protect the weak as well as restrain the powerful.
That belief shaped my life. It is why I served this country in uniform. It is why I believe in secure borders. It is why immigration laws must be enforced. And it is also why I believe law enforcement must be accountable when force is used, especially deadly force.
Those are not conflicting beliefs; they are American beliefs.
In moments like this, some will demand that we choose between compassion and the rule of law. I reject that choice. A person’s immigration status does not erase his humanity. A badge does not erase accountability. And grief does not erase the need for facts.
The most dangerous thing a leader can do after a tragedy is decide too quickly what the tragedy means. Some will use this shooting to condemn every law enforcement officer. Others will see the badge involved and excuse whatever happened before the evidence is known. Both instincts are wrong because they replace judgment with politics which weakens public trust.
Harris County needs a steady hand.
We need an investigation the public can trust. This includes evidence that is preserved, witnesses who are protected, agency actions that are reviewed, and facts that are followed wherever they lead. If video exists, secure it. If reports were filed, review them. If witnesses saw something different from the official account, hear them before they are removed and sent beyond the reach of investigators. That is how justice works.
Fairness must run in every direction. The officers involved are entitled to due process. The men and women who wear badges do difficult and dangerous work, and most do it honorably. They should not be judged by anger before the evidence is known. But neither should the public be asked to accept silence when a life has been taken on a Houston street.
The rule of law is not a slogan we use only when convenient; it is a process to be followed. It means that government power has limits and that facts matter. It means the accused receive due process, witnesses are not intimidated, officers are treated fairly, and families are not dismissed because their questions make someone uncomfortable.
The Harris County Judge is not the federal immigration director. But the county judge is responsible for public safety, emergency coordination and public trust. When federal operations affect our neighborhoods, when a fatal shooting shakes a community, county leadership cannot hide behind jurisdictional lines. It must bring order, demand cooperation, communicate clearly, and keep the peace without pretending pain is not real.
To the family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo: Your grief matters, your questions matter, and his life matters most of all.
To law enforcement: We need you. We value honorable service and will defend your right to fairness.
And to every resident watching this unfold: do not let anyone tell you that we must choose between enforcing the law and honoring a life. A strong community can do both and a just government must do both.
My family came to America because this country promised the rare idea that power would answer to law and law would still leave room for mercy. That promise is being tested.
Harris County should meet that test.
We can protect our borders and protect due process. We can support law enforcement and demand accountability for their actions. We can grieve with a family while demanding to know all the facts. We can keep order without losing compassion.
That is how we honor a life lost. That is how we protect a community shaken. And that is how we prove that in Harris County, law and compassion still belong together.
Orlando Sanchez, a former treasurer of Harris County and Houston City Council member, is the Republican running for Harris County judge.
