Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Monday that Mexico would file criminal complaints in the United States over the deaths of more than a dozen Mexican migrants in immigration detention and those killed in anti-migrant operations. The move comes amid growing outrage over the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, whom Sheinbaum described as "practically murdered."
Outrage Over Killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo
Sheinbaum stated that Salgado Araujo's case "sparks outrage among all Mexicans." He was shot and killed on 7 July while heading to work with his brother and two other men. The Department of Homeland Security claimed Salgado Araujo "weaponized" his vehicle and attempted to hit an ICE officer, but the three other men in the car contradicted this account. Salgado Araujo had lived in the US for nearly 35 years and had no criminal record. Houston authorities have launched their own investigation.
Broader Pattern of Migrant Deaths
A total of 17 Mexican citizens have died since Donald Trump began his migrant crackdown: 14 in detention and three killed during immigration operations. Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico cannot rely solely on diplomatic letters, which "have yielded no results." The complaints will be filed with US federal and local courts on Monday.
Strained Relations Between Mexico and US
Sheinbaum stressed that the legal action is not about creating conflict but about upholding human rights. Relations have been increasingly strained, with reports in April that CIA agents operated in Mexico without authorization, violating the constitution. That same month, the US justice department charged the governor of Sinaloa and nine other officials with alleged ties to the Sinaloa cartel. Sheinbaum has refused to extradite Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, citing lack of evidence.
