Mexico Seeks Charges Over Deaths of Mexicans in ICE Custody

The demand carries no legal authority but raises diplomatic tensions over immigration enforcement in the United States.

US Immigration Enforcement Houston

Candles are lit during a vigil for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, whose shooting death by an ICE agent partially triggered Mexico’s request for criminal charges.
Mark Felix/AP

Mexican officials are seeking criminal charges in the deaths of 17 Mexicans who died in U.S. custody or during immigration enforcement operations under the Trump administration.

Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said Thursday the country wants to initiate “forceful legal actions” in response to Tuesday’s shooting death of Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Houston, which Velasco called a “painful tragedy.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum “instructed us to initiate forceful legal actions to respond to this painful tragedy,” Velasco said in Spanish, adding that his country would “respond to protect the human rights of Mexicans in the United States.”