Mexico Demands US Investigations Into Deaths of Citizens During Immigration Raids

Mexico has announced plans to request criminal charges in US courts over the deaths of more than a dozen Mexican citizens during immigration enforcement operations.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said the complaints would be submitted to US prosecutors after Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during a raid in Houston on July 7.

Salgado’s death marked the 17th case of a Mexican citizen dying during immigration raids or while in the custody of US immigration authorities since President Donald Trump returned to office.

Sheinbaum said Mexico would continue to defend the rights of its citizens abroad, stressing that speaking out against alleged human rights violations was necessary while avoiding direct conflict with the United States.

The move is Mexico’s strongest action so far over deaths linked to Trump’s immigration policies, with officials accusing some cases of involving unlawful killings.

The decision comes at a time of strained relations between Mexico and the US over migration, trade, and security issues, although Sheinbaum’s government has maintained cooperation with Washington while insisting on Mexico’s sovereignty.