Mexico Files US Criminal Complaints Over Migrant Deaths in ICE Custody
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo left for work on the morning of July 7 in Houston. He had lived in the US for nearly 35 years and had no criminal record. An ICE officer shot and killed him before he got there — and now Mexico is taking the US to court over his death and 16 others.
You are a Mexican immigrant living in the US. You go to work one morning with your brother and two coworkers — and you never come home. That is what happened to Lorenzo Salgado Araujo on July 7, 2026, when he was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Houston. He had lived in the US for nearly 35 years and had no criminal history.
On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that Mexico would file criminal complaints in US federal and local courts over Salgado Araujo's death and the deaths of 16 other Mexican citizens since President Trump launched his immigration crackdown. Fourteen of those people died in immigration detention. Three, including Salgado Araujo, were killed during immigration operations. Sheinbaum called Salgado Araujo's killing a case that "sparks outrage among all Mexicans" and said diplomatic letters to Washington had "yielded no results."
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Salgado Araujo "weaponized" his vehicle and tried to hit an ICE officer. But the three other men in the car contradicted that account. Houston authorities launched their own investigation into the incident. Sheinbaum was clear that Mexico is not trying to start a conflict — but said her government could no longer stay silent. "Neither can we, as a government and as Mexican men and women, say, 'Let's not say anything so there won't be any problem with our relationship with President Trump's government,'" she said.
This move comes as US-Mexico relations have grown increasingly tense in 2026. Earlier this year, reports surfaced that CIA agents were operating in Mexico without the Mexican government's knowledge — a violation of Mexico's constitution. In April, the US Justice Department charged the governor of Sinaloa and nine other current and former Mexican officials with alleged ties to the Sinaloa cartel. Sheinbaum has refused to hand over Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, citing a lack of evidence.
What to do if you are stopped by ICE
- Do not run and do not physically resist, even if you believe the stop is unlawful. Resistance can lead to additional charges and complicate your immigration case.
- You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status, where you were born, or how you entered the US. Say clearly: "I am exercising my right to remain silent."
- Ask immediately if you are free to go. If ICE says no, ask to speak with an immigration lawyer before answering any questions.
- If you witness or survive an incident involving force by an immigration officer, contact a civil rights attorney or your country's consulate as soon as possible. Document everything — names, badge numbers, time, location, and what was said.
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Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, any foreign national arrested or detained in the US must be told without delay of their right to contact their country's consulate — and ICE is legally required to honor that. If that right was denied in a detention case, it can be raised as a violation in immigration court or in a civil rights lawsuit. Anyone who survives a use-of-force encounter with immigration officers should preserve all evidence immediately and consult both a criminal defense attorney and an immigration attorney before making any statements to authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Mexico actually file criminal complaints against US immigration officers in US courts?
Mexico announced it would file complaints in US federal and local courts. Whether those complaints lead to charges depends on US prosecutors. Filing a complaint is a formal legal step, but it does not guarantee an indictment or trial. Houston authorities have already opened their own investigation into the Salgado Araujo shooting.
What rights do I have if ICE stops me on the street or at work?
You have the right to remain silent and the right to refuse to answer questions about your immigration status. You do not have to show documents unless ICE has a judicial warrant signed by a judge. You also have the right to contact your country's consulate if you are detained. Do not physically resist, even if you think the stop is wrong.
What happens to my immigration case if I die or am seriously injured in ICE custody?
Your family may have the right to file a civil rights lawsuit in US federal court. An immigration attorney and a civil rights attorney should both be consulted. Your country's consulate can also intervene on your behalf and, as Mexico is now doing, pursue formal complaints through diplomatic or legal channels.
If I am undocumented, is it safe to contact the Mexican consulate?
Yes. Mexican consulates provide services to all Mexican nationals regardless of immigration status. Consular staff are not immigration enforcement officers and do not report your status to ICE or DHS. Registering with the consulate can help protect you if you are detained.