Mexico's Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco Álvarez announced on Thursday that the country plans to file criminal complaints in the United States regarding the deaths of Mexican nationals in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Previously, Mexico had lodged diplomatic complaints, but this new legal approach indicates a heightened response to the situation.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of addressing the deaths, stating, "What we can't do is neglect the Mexicans who have died in ICE operations or who were detained in detention centers…that's why we're pressing for more action." Velasco Álvarez noted that Mexico will bypass diplomatic channels and directly request U.S. prosecutors to investigate these incidents as criminal matters.
The announcement follows the recent fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by ICE agents during a targeted enforcement operation. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that Araujo attempted to use his vehicle against an ICE officer, leading to his death at a local hospital. Both DHS and the FBI are currently investigating the incident, while community leaders are advocating for an independent investigation.
Mexico has previously sent 11 formal diplomatic protest notes to the U.S. regarding the deaths of its nationals. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has also called for prompt investigations into all deaths in ICE custody, describing the number of fatalities as alarming.
According to data from the Detention Watch Network, 14 Mexican nationals have died in ICE custody since President Trump took office, with an additional three deaths occurring during ICE operations. In total, 19 immigrants have died in ICE custody in 2026, and 31 died in the previous year. In contrast, ICE reported 26 deaths during President Biden's term.
A Homeland Security official responded to the claims, stating that there has been no spike in deaths and that the death rate in custody under the Trump administration is consistent with data from the past decade, at 0.008% of the detained population. The official also noted that standards of care in ICE facilities are higher than those in many prisons for U.S. citizens.
Velasco Álvarez indicated plans to request an investigation from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which addresses human rights violations across the Americas, including the U.S.