Mexico to sue US over deaths of citizens in ICE custody

Mexico is initiating legal proceedings against US authorities, seeking criminal prosecution for the deaths of at least 17 Mexican citizens who died during operations or in the custody of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco stated that three individuals died during deportation raids, while 14 others perished in migration detention centers. This move comes shortly after Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed by an ICE agent's gunfire in Houston, Texas. Velasco described the incident as a "painful tragedy" that demands more than just a diplomatic response, following instructions from President Claudia Sheinbaum.

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This incident must be investigated with the utmost seriousness.

Instead of solely diplomatic measures, the Mexican government intends to submit a criminal prosecution request to the US Department of Justice. Mexico also plans to file civil lawsuits against private companies that manage ICE detention centers, aiming to end human rights violations within these facilities. President Sheinbaum emphasized the urgency, stating, "We will do everything in our power because we cannot remain silent."

Salgado Araujo was shot during a traffic stop. The Department of Homeland Security claims he resisted officers, rammed an ICE vehicle, and attempted to hit an agent with his car, prompting a self-defense response. However, his family asserts he had lived in the US for nearly 35 years. The department has launched an internal investigation, while the family, civil rights organizations, and Democratic politicians are calling for an independent inquiry.

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We will do everything in our power because we cannot remain silent.