Mexico City — The Mexican government confirmed Thursday it intends to file direct criminal complaints with U.S. attorneys, abandoning solely diplomatic channels to address the deaths of its citizens in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco Álvarez stated that Mexico will request criminal investigations into these incidents, a move that places bilateral legal friction atop existing policy disputes.
Shifting from Protest Notes to Prosecutorial Referrals
Velasco Álvarez disclosed that Mexico has already submitted 11 formal diplomatic notes demanding explanations from Washington. The new strategy moves the dispute from embassies to potential courtrooms. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, addressing reporters, framed the action as a non-negotiable obligation. "We're going to do everything we can in our power," Sheinbaum said. "What we can't do is neglect the Mexicans who have died in ICE operations or who were detained in detention centers."
The immediate catalyst for the announcement follows the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a longtime Houston resident, during an ICE enforcement operation Tuesday. DHS asserts Araujo attempted to use his vehicle as a weapon against an officer, a claim that remains under joint DHS and FBI investigation. It is the third death of a Mexican national during an active ICE operation this term, according to data cited by the Detention Watch Network, a group that lobbies for reduced immigration enforcement. The total number of Mexican nationals who have died in custody since January stands at 14.
U.S. Responds to Custody Statistics
The Mexican presentation highlighted a statement from a United Nations human rights official calling for independent investigations, but the DHS counters claims of systemic failure. A Homeland Security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, "There has been NO spike in deaths. Consistent with data over the last decade, as of May 29, death rates in custody under the Trump administration are 0.008% of the detained population." The official noted that expanding detention capacity has been matched with medical care standards exceeding many domestic prisons holding U.S. citizens.
The push for criminal complaints risks diverting resources from the operational focus on interior enforcement, which remains the administration's primary tool for prioritizing American workers. The statutory mandate to detain foreign nationals who violate immigration law inevitably creates friction when individuals with final orders of removal resist enforcement actions. Mexico's Foreign Minister also signaled he would petition the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to investigate, a body that has previously criticized U.S. immigration policy without binding authority over American courts.