Mexico has formally requested that US state attorneys general conduct criminal investigations into cases of Mexican immigrants who have died while in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody or during ICE raids. This request was announced on Tuesday, July 15, 2026, by the Mexican government.

The move follows the recent death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant who was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Houston. Since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term, a total of 17 Mexican immigrants have died during immigration enforcement actions, with 14 deaths occurring in ICE custody and three during agency operations.

Mexico’s foreign ministry had previously indicated its intention to make this request, which was formalized on July 15. The government also plans to send a similar request to the US Department of Justice. However, the United States is not legally obligated to act on these requests.

In addition, the Mexican government has begun sending letters to US detention centers where Mexican immigrants have died. These letters demand an immediate cessation of actions or omissions that have led to these deaths, such as denying prompt and expedited medical care and enforcing policies incompatible with medical and penitentiary standards. According to the ministry, these letters represent a first step toward potential civil lawsuits against the companies operating these detention centers to address human rights violations.

Last week, Roberto Velasco, Mexico’s foreign minister, stated that Mexico would directly approach US authorities to request criminal investigations into cases of Mexicans killed in ICE custody or enforcement operations.

The US Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, stated that Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, aged 52, had rammed an ICE vehicle and that a federal agent fired a weapon in self-defense.

Sources