The Mexican government has taken an unprecedented step by initiating several criminal complaints in response to the deaths of Mexican immigrants in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the leadership of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, is actively engaging with U.S. state prosecutors through the Mexican Embassy. This includes sending cease and desist letters to specific U.S. detention centers identified as having concerning conditions. For instance, the Adelanto Detention Center in California, where multiple Mexican nationals have died, has been directly addressed for its inadequate medical care and sub-standard policies.
The head of Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Velasco Alvarez, has communicated with Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, requesting an investigation into these deaths. The aim is to assess their compatibility with international obligations. Furthermore, Mexico plans to work with the U.S. Attorney General’s Office to lodge a formal complaint with the Department of Justice. More details on these efforts can be found here.
In total, at least seventeen Mexican immigrants have died while in ICE custody, with the most recent incident involving Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a long-term U.S. resident who died in July 2026. U.S. authorities claim he was evading arrest, while his family disputes this narrative, suggesting he was innocently followed and killed. This event has further strained the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, impacting ongoing issues such as security, migration, and trade. According to José Luis Valdés Ugalde, a scholar at the Center for Research on North America at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, these deaths exacerbate existing tensions and unresolved matters between the two nations.
The strategy adopted by the Mexican government marks a departure from its traditional stance on defending migrant communities. There is hope that upcoming political changes, such as the potential shift in U.S. Congressional power, could foster more constructive dialogue and cooperation between the countries. Experts like UNAM professor Tomás Milton Muñoz Bravo see the upcoming U.S. midterm elections as an opportunity to introduce changes that could facilitate improved negotiations.
In the interim, Mexico remains steadfast in seeking justice for those affected, and addressing the broader systemic issues plaguing immigration detention in the U.S. The move underscores a renewed commitment to the protection of Mexican nationals abroad and attempts to address the deeply rooted challenges facing immigrant communities.