The Mexican government announced plans to file criminal complaints in the United States following the shooting of a Mexican national by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the reported deaths of Mexican citizens in ICE custody. Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco stated during a press conference that 14 Mexican citizens have died while in ICE custody, with three additional deaths occurring during arrest operations.
Velasco emphasized the intention to escalate the matter beyond diplomatic channels, seeking direct investigations by U.S. prosecutors into these incidents. He referenced the recent death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican man who was shot by ICE officers during a traffic stop in Houston. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed that Salgado Araujo was shot in self-defense after allegedly attempting to run over the officers with his vehicle.
Salgado Araujo's death led to protests in Houston, where demonstrators called for an independent investigation. The DHS Office of Inspector General is currently investigating the shooting, amid concerns regarding the fairness of the inquiry.
President Claudia Sheinbaum also called for legal action following the incident, highlighting that Salgado Araujo's death is part of a broader pattern of fatalities linked to immigration enforcement in the U.S. She stated that these deaths often occur despite individuals only lacking proper documentation.
The DHS has disputed claims of unjust treatment of illegal immigrants by ICE, stating that there has been no increase in deaths and that the death rate in custody remains consistent with data from the past decade. A DHS spokesman noted that as of May 29, the death rate in custody under the Trump administration was 0.008% of the detained population and asserted that the care provided in detention centers exceeds that found in many prisons for U.S. citizens.
Velasco indicated that the legal actions would encompass civil lawsuits against detention center operators, letters to withdraw from U.S.-Mexico agreements, and collaboration with human rights organizations. According to DHS data, approximately 19 immigrants have died in ICE custody in 2026, with some detainees reportedly suffering from pre-existing medical conditions that did not receive adequate care.