MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that Mexico will pursue criminal and civil legal action in the United States over the deaths of Mexican nationals during U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and enforcement operations.
Sheinbaum announced the move after an ICE agent fatally shot 52-year-old Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during an enforcement operation in Houston’s Magnolia Park neighborhood on July 7. Salgado Araujo had lived in the United States for decades and had a pending work permit application.
Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said Mexico has documented 17 deaths of Mexican nationals linked to ICE since the current U.S. immigration crackdown began. He said 14 deaths occurred in ICE detention centers and three occurred during enforcement operations, including the death of Salgado Araujo.
Sheinbaum said Mexico will no longer rely solely on diplomatic protest notes and will continue providing consular assistance to detainees and their families.
Velasco said the Foreign Ministry will ask Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office to refer the cases to U.S. state prosecutors and the U.S. Department of Justice to seek criminal investigations into those responsible.
U.S. authorities said Salgado Araujo attempted to evade arrest and used his vehicle as a weapon during the operation, prompting an ICE agent to fire in self-defense. Witnesses and relatives disputed that account. They also said the family learned of his death through videos circulating on social media before receiving official notification.
Mexico also plans to pursue civil action against private companies that operate ICE detention facilities. Velasco said the government will send cease-and-desist letters demanding changes to detention practices and conditions that Mexico alleges contributed to the deaths of Mexican detainees.
The Mexican government is also seeking international support. Velasco said Mexico has asked the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, together with civil society organizations, to seek protective measures for Mexican nationals in U.S. detention. He added that Mexico has requested assistance from U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and directed Mexican officials in Washington to seek meetings with U.S. authorities and members of Congress.
Mexican officials said the government has sent 11 diplomatic notes to the United States requesting information about the deaths of Mexican nationals in ICE custody or enforcement operations. They said the responses have not provided satisfactory accountability and that pursuing legal action has become a government priority.
