Mexico Files 20 Complaints After 17 Mexican Migrants Die in ICE Custody

• Mexico files 20 complaints
• 17 Mexican migrants died
• Prosecutor’s offices to investigate the cases

The Mexican government presented 20 complaints against members of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the death of 17 Mexicans.

The deaths occurred during operations or while the migrants were in ICE custody in different states across the United States.

Roberto Velasco, Secretary of Foreign Relations, reported that the legal actions aim to ensure justice for the victims and their families.

Mexico Denounces ICE Over Death of 17 Mexican Migrants

The Ministry of Foreign Relations insists on the criminal path to find those responsible among the US officials who were related to the death of migrants

🖋️ @micaelav_
🔗 https://t.co/pqZ6BMQRO3 pic.twitter.com/xXCGxNsLQj

— EL PAÍS México (@elpaismexico) August 19, 2026

“A call was made to the US authorities to conduct prompt investigations and for the responsible authorities to guarantee the human rights of the victims”.

“Of course, there must be justice in these cases,” Velasco stated during the morning press conference on Wednesday.

Why it matters: Mexico is seeking that US authorities investigate the circumstances of the deaths and determine responsibilities in each of the reported cases.

Files Complaints with State and District Prosecutors

#Nación | The government of #México announced that it will file criminal complaints in #EstadosUnidos for the death of 17 Mexican citizens related to actions by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (#ICE), of which 14 occurred while the victims were… pic.twitter.com/3GepTxPCUp

— La Silla Rota (@lasillarota) August 19, 2026

Velasco explained that the 17 Mexicans died from May 2025 to now during operations or while in ICE custody.

The cases occurred in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas.

In response to these events, the Mexican government presented eight complaints to state prosecutors and 12 to district prosecutors.

The attorneys general of Illinois, Texas, Florida, and California reported that they received the complaints filed by the Mexican authorities.

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The district attorneys of Atlanta, Chicago, Oxnard, and San Bernardino also confirmed receipt of the complaints.

Now, the Mexican government is waiting for the responses and decisions of the US authorities.

“In the other cases, the remaining 16 cases, we are naturally following up,” Velasco explained.

The official added that Mexico expects to know “what decisions each of the prosecutors’ offices where these complaints have been filed will make”.

The complaint from the Attorney General’s Office regarding the 17 deaths was also transmitted to the US Department of Justice.

Additionally, Mexico made a formal request for the corresponding investigations to be opened for these cases.

Mexico Takes the Cases to the United Nations

#ÚLTIMAHORA | @Claudiashein announced that Mexico will directly intervene to clarify the death of 17 nationals in ICE operations or detention centers in the US.

The president said that they will seek to determine if there were abuses or violations and, if so, to determine… pic.twitter.com/36OwUK9W6N

— OSCAR MARIO BETETA (@MarioBeteta) August 19, 2026

The actions of the Mexican government also reached the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.

Mexico sent a letter to the official as part of the measures taken to defend Mexican citizens in the United States.

In his response, Türk expressed knowledge and concern about the situation faced by members of the Mexican community residing in US territory.

Velasco assured that these actions do not aim to generate a conflict between the governments of Mexico and the United States.

The purpose, he indicated, is to protect nationals and seek justice for the deceased migrants.

“It is a priority of the Ministry of Foreign Relations to attend to this, obviously not with the intention of generating a conflict with the US government,” he highlighted.

“But yes, naturally, it is something that corresponds to the government and particularly to the Ministry of Foreign Relations to attend to as a priority,” he added.

Mexican Government Allocates Resources to Repatriate Remains

The Mexican government is also providing support to the families of the people who died in the United States.

As part of these actions, it allocates $24,788 for the repatriation of the victims’ remains.

The case occurs amid the tightening of US migration policy after Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.

The measures include more severe sanctions for those who enter the country irregularly and an increase in raids.

Between January 20, 2025, and August 13, 2026, 271,193 Mexicans were repatriated.

According to figures from the National Institute of Migration (INM), 171,508 of these people entered Mexico by land.

Another 99,685 people were repatriated by air during the same period.

The Mexican authorities are now following up on the complaints while waiting for the decisions of the US prosecutors involved.