Key facts
- Mexico will file criminal complaints in US federal and local courts.
- The complaints stem from the deaths of 17 Mexican migrants.
- 14 migrants died in detention, and three were killed during ICE operations.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum cited the recent killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo as a key incident.
- DHS claims Salgado Araujo attempted to hit an ICE officer with his vehicle, but this is disputed by witnesses.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Monday that Mexico will file criminal complaints in the United States concerning the deaths of more than a dozen Mexican migrants. These deaths include 14 individuals who died in immigration detention and three others killed in anti-migrant operations, such as the recent case of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston.
Sheinbaum described Salgado Araujo's death as "practically murdered" and stated that Mexico "cannot simply continue with diplomatic letters that have yielded no results." She emphasized that the government cannot remain silent to avoid problems with the current US administration. The Department of Homeland Security claims Salgado Araujo "weaponized" his vehicle and attempted to hit an ICE officer, but this account has been contradicted by three other men present in the car. Salgado Araujo had resided in the US for nearly 35 years and had no criminal history. Houston authorities are investigating the incident.
Relations between Mexico and the US have been strained recently, with reports of CIA agents operating in Mexico without authorization and US charges against the governor of Sinaloa for alleged ties to a drug cartel. President Sheinbaum has refused to extradite the Sinaloa governor, citing a lack of evidence.