Mexico to File US Criminal Complaints over ICE Deaths of 17 Mexicans

The Mexican government announced it will pursue criminal investigations and civil lawsuits in the United States over the deaths of 17 Mexican nationals linked to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Fourteen of the victims died while detained in ICE‑run facilities and three were killed during ICE operations, a pattern that intensified after former President Donald Trump returned to office in 2025. The most recent case involved 52‑year‑old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was shot by an ICE officer during a traffic stop in Houston, Texas, an incident the agency described as self‑defense.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said, “We cannot turn a blind eye to the Mexicans who have died,” and pledged to move “beyond the diplomatic realm” by filing complaints with state prosecutors and the U.S. Department of Justice. Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco added that Mexico will also send cease‑and‑desist letters to private companies operating ICE detention centers and will seek redress through the Inter‑American Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations. The shift from diplomatic notes to legal action marks a significant escalation that could further strain U.S.–Mexico relations and heighten scrutiny of ICE’s detention practices.