The Mexican government has formally declared its intention to initiate criminal complaints within the United States concerning the deaths of over a dozen Mexican nationals while in American custody. Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco informed journalists that the administration is set to pursue firm legal measures to uphold the human rights of Mexican citizens present in the United States.
Details on Custodial Deaths
Minister Velasco detailed that 14 Mexican nationals have lost their lives while under the supervision of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with an additional three deaths occurring during ICE arrest operations. These incidents have sparked significant public anger, extending well beyond Mexico's borders. In Houston, the fatal shooting of 52-year-old Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE officer triggered a protest involving more than a thousand participants on a Wednesday.
The Houston Shooting and Family Reaction
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who had worked in the construction industry in Houston for three decades after arriving in the US as an undocumented migrant, was killed on his way to work. His son, Ronaldo Salgado, expressed deep frustration, stating that his father did not deserve to be reduced to a generic news headline about a shooting. The family maintains that he was simply commuting to his job when the fatal confrontation occurred.
Official DHS Account and Growing Scrutiny
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement via X, claiming that ICE personnel were executing a targeted enforcement operation to apprehend an illegal alien. According to the department, Salgado attempted to ram an ICE law enforcement vehicle and ignored multiple verbal commands. The official account asserts that Salgado weaponized his vehicle in a bid to run over an officer, which prompted the agent to fire his weapon in self-defense. Following this event, four members of the US Congress have formally requested a fully transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances of Salgado's death.
These lawmakers also urged the secretary of Homeland Security to reflect on the cases of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two US citizens who were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis back in January, which resulted in widespread national protests. In their letter, the Democrats criticized the DHS and ICE for echoing familiar narratives regarding evasion of arrest and self-defense, noting that such statements often arrive in place of genuine answers or accountability.
Escalating Diplomatic Tensions
Frustration toward the current administration has been rising within the Mexican government. President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized on Wednesday that the situation has reached a point where diplomatic notes are no longer sufficient. Following this, Velasco confirmed he had received direct instructions from President Sheinbaum to move forward with the criminal complaints, aiming to have the deaths of Mexicans in ICE custody or during operations treated as criminal matters. Furthermore, the Mexican government plans to initiate civil litigation against the private companies responsible for managing the detention centers where 14 of its nationals have died, including four at the ICE facility located in Adelanto, California.
