Mexico files 20 complaints in US over ICE‑related deaths of 17 nationals

Mexico’s Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE) has filed 20 criminal complaints in United States courts – eight with state prosecutors and twelve with county prosecutors – covering the deaths of 17 Mexican citizens that occurred since May 2025 during ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) operations or while in ICE custody. The complaints were submitted on 13 July by Ambassador Roberto Lazzeri in the jurisdictions where the deaths happened: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas. In addition, on 14 July the Mexican Embassy sent a formal complaint prepared by the Attorney General’s Office to the U.S. Department of Justice, requesting investigations and updates.

Mexico has also engaged directly with U.S. agencies. Ambassador Lazzeri met with officials from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to raise concerns about detention‑center conditions, including those run by private firms. Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco Álvarez sent a letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk asking the UN to gather information, assess compliance with international human‑rights instruments and issue recommendations.

The Mexican consular network is providing legal assistance, repatriation support and other aid to the families of the deceased. President Claudia Sheinbaum has backed the actions, describing the deaths as “homicides” and pledging to pursue every available avenue. Separately, the Mexican consulate in Orlando has demanded a thorough Florida‑state investigation into the July 14 death of Juan Jairo Coronilla Durán, a Mexican national killed during an ICE operation.