Substance in ICE van tests negative for drugs

Tests of the substance found in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s van after the Houston ICE shooting have come back negative for narcotics or illicit drugs, a finding corroborated by Harris County prosecutors, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, and attorney Ruby Powers for the Salgado family. The family and officials have described the material as an electrolyte powder used by outdoor workers to stay hydrated in extreme heat, not a drug, and have argued that premature or unverified claims caused damage by shifting focus from the shooting itself. The FBI and other federal agencies had earlier suggested the material might be methamphetamine, but local authorities say the lab results contradict those claims and investigations continue. Attorney Powers and local prosecutors have emphasized the need for transparency, an independent investigation, and accountability, including the release of full lab results soon. The FBI investigation remains ongoing, with federal officials and DPS not yet providing additional comment as the case develops. The broader context includes simultaneous scrutiny of ICE conduct in Houston and another recent ICE shooting incident in Maine, underscoring ongoing federal investigations into its agents’ use of force.