Mexico is seeking civil and criminal investigations in the United States following the deaths of 17 Mexican nationals during immigration enforcement operations or at detention centers. The Mexican government stated these investigations aim to “protect the human rights of Mexicans in the United States.” This announcement came just days after the ICE shooting death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas last week.
ICE officials claim agents shot Salgado Araujo, whom they identified as being in the United States illegally, after he rammed a law enforcement vehicle and refused verbal commands during a traffic stop. However, Salgado Araujo’s family disputes this official account. They told CNN that the 52-year-old father of three would have stopped if he had known the car following him belonged to law enforcement.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum used a press conference to announce the request for criminal investigations. She also called for petitions to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The US Department of Homeland Security defended ICE’s actions when asked about Sheinbaum’s comments. “ICE agents are trained to use the minimum necessary force to resolve dangerous situations to prioritize the safety of the public and our officers,” the agency stated.
State Violence at the Imperial Border
The DHS further asserted that detainees in ICE custody “receive full due process, are provided with adequate food, water, and medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their families and attorneys.” Analysts speaking with CNN suggested Salgado’s death and Mexico’s response could signal a major rift between Mexican and US authorities. José Luis Valdés Ugalde, an academic at the Center for Research on North America at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, emphasized the gravity of the situation. “This is no minor incident. It affects the bilateral relationship and the pending issues that Mexico and the United States have before them,” he said, listing “security, migration, and trade” as key areas.
International affairs expert and newspaper columnist Fausto Pretelin described the relationship between Mexico and the United States as being at “its worst moment” after Salgado Araujo’s killing. He argued Sheinbaum’s actions would damage relations further for little more than political points gained within Mexico. “It’s a performance,” Pretelin stated, dismissing the announcement. “The opportunity to take these issues seriously is lost. And when I say seriously, I mean that diplomatic channels should be used.”
Diplomacy's Limits, Capital's Demands
Mexico’s government has already issued 11 diplomatic notes of protest to the United States over the deaths of its citizens, Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco told reporters. He acknowledged the country now had to go “beyond the diplomatic realm.” Tomás Milton Muñoz Bravo, professor of international relations at UNAM, criticized the delayed response. “It’s incredible that 17 deaths had to occur for Mexican authorities to finally announce a strategy that goes beyond the merely diplomatic to the judicial,” he said. Muñoz Bravo expressed skepticism, adding, “Of course, the announcement has been made, but I still want to see the actions that have been stated actually develop.”
Valdés Ugalde observed that the United States shows no signs of caring about Mexican criticisms of its immigration policy. He also stated Mexico has not known how to defend the migrant community and has made what he described as “mistakes” in its foreign policy. One such mistake, he noted, was rejecting extradition requests for politicians allegedly linked to drug trafficking on national sovereignty grounds. This, he argued, gave the Trump administration an opening to retaliate in other areas, such as the renegotiation of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which protects many Mexican exports from American tariffs. This illustrates how state actions are often dictated by the demands of capital accumulation and trade agreements.
Political Theater and Future Prospects
“There are no signs of rebuilding the relationship; the relationship is very damaged by the attitudes of both governments and by Mexico’s defensive stance,” Valdés Ugalde concluded. Muñoz Bravo suggested the November midterm elections in the United States, four months from today, could open an opportunity for Mexico if Republicans lose control of Congress. “What we’re going to see in November is extremely important,” he said. If Trump “does not have a majority in the chambers, there will be checks and balances that will even allow for room to negotiate with other actors in the United States.” Until then, tensions between the neighbors remain high, with any further deaths of Mexican migrants threatening to deepen the rift, exposing the ongoing human cost of border enforcement for capital.