Mexico Presses for U.S. Legal Action After 17 Mexican Nationals Die in Immigration Custody

Mexican authorities are pushing for criminal charges in America following the deaths of at least 17 of their citizens held by ICE or caught in federal raids since Trump took office.

Mexico Presses for U.S. Legal Action After 17 Mexican Nationals Die in Immigration Custody

The government of Mexico is demanding that American prosecutors open criminal cases over the deaths of at least 17 Mexican citizens who perished either while detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or during federal enforcement actions carried out since President Donald Trump assumed office, according to Roberto Velasco, secretary for foreign affairs.

The latest victim was Lorenzo Salgado, aged 52, who died from gunshot wounds on Tuesday in Houston. An ICE officer shot him as he sat inside his company van. Officials in the United States claim the shooting was justified because Salgado supposedly resisted capture and attempted to run over the officer with his truck. Salgado had resided and been employed in America for over 30 years.

This killing marks the first instance of a fatal shooting by federal immigration officers since January, when two American citizens lost their lives in Minneapolis under similar circumstances, sparking demonstrations.

During President Claudia Sheinbaum's regular media briefing, Velasco disclosed that Mexican officials intend to bypass normal diplomatic routes and contact American prosecutors directly to hold accountable those involved in the deaths.

Separately, Sheinbaum declared that her administration will formally ask private contractors running immigrant detention sites to uphold the human rights of Mexican detainees. Additionally, she will instruct Mexico's foreign ministry to enlist federal prosecutors at home and to urge Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to take steps to safeguard Mexicans held in American detention centers.

These moves unfold against a backdrop of worsening relations between the two neighbors, compounded by reports of U.S. spy activities on Mexican soil and strained trade talks.

Sursă: România Liberă

Source: Romania Libera