MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced plans to increase pressure on U.S. authorities to investigate the deaths of Mexican citizens in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Sheinbaum stated, "There are too many cases," referring to 17 Mexican citizens who have died while in ICE custody or during operations. She emphasized the obligation to defend Mexicans abroad.
In response to the rising number of fatalities, Sheinbaum directed Mexican diplomats to file complaints with state attorneys general and district attorneys across the United States, urging them to investigate these deaths. She stated, "We cannot turn a blind eye to the Mexicans who have died," following the recent shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old construction contractor from Mexico.
Mexico's approach marks a shift from its traditional diplomatic protests to a more direct demand for investigations, although results have been limited. There has been no public confirmation of prosecutions related to the 17 cases, despite efforts by the Mexican government to engage with the U.S. Department of Justice and various state attorneys general.
Víctor Clark, a human rights advocate in Tijuana, commented on the situation, stating, "What Mexico is doing is basically a bureaucratic step with no real response." Legal experts note that Mexico faces significant challenges in filing complaints in U.S. courts, as U.S. prosecutors are not mandated to respond to inquiries from foreign governments.
According to a report from Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights, at least 52 migrants, including 14 Mexican citizens, have died in ICE custody since the beginning of the second Trump administration. Critics argue that the Trump administration has not adequately pursued investigations into these cases.
Roberto Velasco, Mexico's foreign secretary, reported that Mexico has received partial or no responses to its complaints from the eight states where the deaths occurred. Only four states — California, Texas, Florida, and Illinois — acknowledged receipt of Mexico's demands.
The Florida attorney general's office confirmed that the death of Royer Pérez Jiménez, 19, was ruled a "presumed suicide." Ventura County, which was involved in a notable ICE operation, reported that it was evaluating Mexico's complaint, although a spokesperson indicated no communication had been received from Mexico.
The Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County has been a focal point of concern, with at least four Mexican citizens reported to have died there. A civil class-action lawsuit has been filed alleging systemic abuse, including medical neglect. A federal judge has mandated improvements in conditions at the facility, which is operated by the Geo Group.
In March, following the fourth death of a Mexican national at Adelanto, the Mexican government pledged to pursue all legal and diplomatic avenues to address conditions in U.S. detention centers. The case of José Guadalupe Ramos Solano, who died in custody, has drawn particular attention, with his widow calling for justice.
The San Bernardino County district attorney's office has received letters from the Mexican government regarding deaths at the Adelanto facility, but no criminal complaints have been filed. The situation remains a significant point of contention between Mexico and the United States regarding the treatment of migrants in custody.