Mexico to File Criminal Complaints Over Deaths in ICE Custody
Mexico's foreign minister announced plans to file criminal complaints over deaths in ICE custody.
Why it matters: This move highlights urgent international legal and human rights concerns related to immigration enforcement policies. In-house counsel and international law experts should watch for escalating diplomatic and legal conflicts.
- At least 15 Mexican nationals died in ICE custody or enforcement since January 2025.
- Mexico has issued 14 diplomatic protests and demands thorough investigations.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum ordered daily consular visits to U.S. detention centers.
- Mexico plans to pursue all diplomatic and legal avenues to support victims' families.
Mexico's Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco Álvarez announced formal plans to file criminal complaints in the United States concerning the deaths of Mexican nationals in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Since President Donald Trump took office in 2025, at least 15 Mexican citizens have died while detained by ICE or during enforcement operations, according to reporting from KJZZ Fronteras Desk.
The Mexican government has deemed these deaths unacceptable and has demanded immediate and thorough investigations to establish facts and accountability. Mexico has sent 14 diplomatic communications expressing rejection of these fatalities and demanding action. President Claudia Sheinbaum has escalated diplomatic oversight, ordering Mexican diplomats to replace weekly check-ins with daily visits to detention facilities housing Mexican nationals.
Velasco stated, “Nos parece inaceptable que los mexicanos han perdido la vida bajo custodia de ICE y eso vamos a seguirlo poniendo sobre la mesa en distintas perspectivas jurídicas en apoyo a sus familias,” underscoring Mexico’s commitment to legal action and support for families. Sheinbaum emphasized that mistreatment of Mexican nationals—many employed by U.S. companies despite lacking documentation—is intolerable.
Mexico’s approach indicates a serious escalation from diplomatic protests to pursuing formal legal avenues within U.S. courts. The collective legal and diplomatic pressure from Mexico spotlights broader concerns over immigration enforcement practices and cross-border accountability.
By the numbers:
- 15 deaths — Mexican nationals in ICE custody or enforcement since Jan 2025
- 14 diplomatic communications — Mexico’s official protests to U.S. authorities
- 19-69 years — age range of deceased Mexican nationals
What's next: Mexico’s Foreign Ministry is expected to formally submit its criminal complaints to U.S. judicial authorities in the coming weeks, while diplomatic tensions remain high.