Mexico intends to file criminal complaints in the United States over the deaths of Mexican nationals in ICE custody, Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco Álvarez announced Thursday. The move marks a significant escalation from previous diplomatic protests.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters at a Thursday press conference that Mexico will pursue all available options. "We're going to do everything we can in our power," she said, adding that the country cannot neglect Mexicans who have died in ICE operations or detention centers.
Velasco Álvarez stated Mexico will move beyond diplomatic channels and file complaints directly with U.S. prosecutors, asking them to investigate the incidents as criminal matters. The announcement follows the fatal shooting of Houston resident Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by ICE agents early Tuesday morning.
The State Department and Mexico's Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the planned action. The escalation raises stakes for the Trump administration as foreign governments and rights advocates continue scrutinizing ICE custody deaths.
Critics argue the legal strategy faces significant hurdles, as U.S. prosecutors have broad discretion over whether to pursue charges and federal agents often enjoy qualified immunity in such cases.