Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday that her government plans to file criminal complaints in the US against the US Department of Justice (DoJ) regarding the deaths of Mexican citizens that took place while in immigration custody or while being targeted in anti-immigration operations. 

At least 14 Mexican nationals have died while in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and three more have reportedly died in arrest operations conducted by the agency. Most recently, on Tuesday, an ICE agent shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican national living in the US without legal documentation for three decades. 

His killing, which sparked protests in Houston—where Araujo lived for nearly thirty-five years—and throughout Mexico, marked at least six people shot dead in ICE operations since early 2025, when US President Donald Trump returned to office and launched a campaign of mass deportations. In addition to several formal diplomatic protest letters to the US government, demanding a “prompt and thorough investigation,” Sheinbaum’s government also previously filed a complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). However, in light of the new deaths and the apparent lack of tangible progress in the United States, the Mexican government has decided to escalate the matter to the criminal justice system. 

“We cannot turn a blind eye to the Mexicans who have died,” Sheinbaum said during her daily press conference. “We cannot allow the mistreatment of our brothers and sisters who are in the United States – our fellow citizens. Therefore, we will propose other measures.”

She added that the criminal complaints will seek to hold accountable those considered to have committed homicides or human rights violations, and that her government is prepared to assist all citizens who request it, but especially to “Mexicans whose only crime is working honestly in the United States.”

Thursday’s announcement represents a significant escalation in criticism as relations between the two neighbors continue to worsen. When addressing the press during Thursday’s conference, Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Robert Velasco stated that a request will also be made to the UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, to demand protection for nationals in ICE custody. 

The move underscores Mexico’s growing willingness to challenge US immigration enforcement through international and legal channels, as pressure mounts for accountability over deaths tied to detention and arrest operations. With tensions already strained, the complaints could further deepen the diplomatic rift between Washington and Mexico City.