Mexico is escalating its response to the killing of Mexican nationals by U.S. immigration authorities, with President Claudia Sheinbaum announcing Thursday that her government will file criminal complaints in the United States. The move comes two days after Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 35-year Houston resident, was fatally shot by an ICE officer during a traffic stop.
Speaking in Mexico City, Sheinbaum said 14 Mexican citizens have died while in ICE custody, and three more have been killed during ICE enforcement actions, including Salgado Araujo. “We cannot turn a blind eye to the Mexicans who have died,” she told reporters, signaling a shift from diplomatic protests to direct legal action.
The announcement follows the July 8 shooting in Houston, where ICE claims Salgado Araujo rammed an agency vehicle with his van, refused commands, and attempted to run over an officer. His family disputes that account, noting he had no criminal record and ran a construction company that built hundreds of homes over three decades. The League of United Latin American Citizens criticized ICE’s narrative, calling it nearly identical to the agency’s explanation after two deaths in Minneapolis in January.
Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said the government will file complaints with prosecutors in states where deaths occurred, as well as with the U.S. Department of Justice. He stressed the Houston shooting must be investigated with “absolute seriousness.” The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI are already investigating.
Beyond criminal complaints, Mexico plans civil lawsuits against private prison operators Geo Group and CoreCivic, which run ICE detention centers. Velasco said 58 migrants of various nationalities have died in ICE detention in 2025 and 2026. A DHS spokesperson denied any spike in deaths and said detainees receive due process, proper care, and communication access.
The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment. The Salgado Araujo family, backed by local lawmakers, has demanded a transparent probe into the shooting. The case has reignited calls to abolish ICE, with some officials renewing demands for accountability.
For more on the political fallout, see Mayor Mamdani’s renewed demand to abolish ICE and Democratic lawmakers’ call for a probe. The family’s push for answers is detailed in their public statements.
