Mexico has formally asked U.S. state attorneys general to conduct criminal investigations into the deaths of migrants who have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody or during raids. The Mexican government announced the request Tuesday, which also includes a similar plea to the U.S. Department of Justice.
This action follows the recent death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant who was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Houston. Since the start of former President Donald Trump’s second term, 17 Mexican migrants have died during immigration enforcement actions, with 14 in ICE custody and three during agency operations.
The United States is not legally obligated to comply with these requests. However, Mexico has also begun sending letters to U.S. detention centers where Mexican migrants have died. These letters demand an immediate cessation of actions or omissions that led to the deaths, citing issues such as denial of prompt medical care and the application of policies that contravene medical and penitentiary standards.
Mexico's Foreign Ministry stated these letters are a preliminary step toward potential civil lawsuits against the companies operating the detention centers, aiming to halt human rights violations.
Last week, Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco announced the country's intention to directly approach U.S. authorities for criminal probes into the deaths of Mexicans in ICE custody or operations. Salgado Araujo, who had no criminal record and had resided in the U.S. for 35 years, was shot on a Tuesday while en route to a job site with his construction crew in Houston. His death prompted protests in Houston and calls for an independent investigation from Democrats and his family. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, stated that the 52-year-old Araujo rammed an ICE vehicle and that a federal agent fired in self-defense.
In parallel, Velasco has sent a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, requesting that U.S. authorities compile information on the deaths of Mexican migrants in ICE custody. He also asked for an analysis of how these events align with international human rights obligations and requested that the Human Rights Council review the cases and provide recommendations.
These developments represent an escalation in the response from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration to U.S. immigration enforcement policies. Earlier this year, Sheinbaum directed Mexico's diplomatic missions across the U.S. to conduct regular check-ins with ICE detainees and her government has previously lodged a complaint with Türk.