Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged to pursue what she described as «significant legal measures» against the United States after a Mexican national was fatally shot during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Texas. The incident has reignited tensions between the two countries over U.S. immigration enforcement practices, with Mexico City counting at least 17 cases of Mexican nationals who have died in U.S. immigration custody.
Speaking during her daily «Mañanera del Pueblo» press conference in Mexico City, Sheinbaum focused on the case of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, an undocumented immigrant who had lived in the United States for decades. According to U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials, Araujo was the subject of an ICE arrest operation in Houston when an agent shot him in self-defense, alleging that he ignored verbal commands and attempted to ram the agent with his vehicle.
«Our goal is to go beyond diplomatic notes and the representations we made to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. We cannot tolerate the mistreatment of our fellow citizens, our brothers and sisters, in the United States. So, we are proposing further measures,» Sheinbaum said in Spanish. She emphasized that the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs will present the measures to Washington and specifically commented on Araujo’s death, stating, «This occurred in the context of detention, even though their only offense was lacking documentation — and this despite having been hired by a U.S. company.»
Sheinbaum argued that the United States has no justification for detaining individuals like Araujo or subjecting them to alleged violence. «We are therefore preparing, obviously, more significant legal measures,» she added. On Thursday, Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco announced that he is requesting criminal charges be filed in connection with the 17 Mexican nationals who died in U.S. custody, with requests to be sent to the U.S. Justice Department and various state attorneys general, according to the Associated Press.
Multiple reports suggested that Sheinbaum’s demands would have no legal effect in U.S. courts. Mexico City has claimed that 14 of the 17 deaths occurred while individuals were in custody, while three were killed during active DHS operations. Fox News Digital reached out to the Justice Department and DHS for comment, and the White House directed inquiries to DHS.
Araujo, 52, was reportedly transporting workers to a jobsite for a homebuilding company in the Magnolia Park section of Houston when the incident occurred. Critics have disputed the government’s recounting of events, and objections have arisen over the lack of body cameras worn by the agents on the scene. A DHS spokesperson defended the agents, stating that they had not been issued body-worn cameras because of the repercussions of the Democrat-backed agency shutdown earlier this year. «The process of purchasing and issuing body-worn cameras to all of our ICE field offices was interrupted by the Democrats’ multiple government shutdowns. Body cameras have been deployed to more than half the field offices, with the remaining half to receive them in the next 60 days,» the spokesperson said, while also noting a 1,300% increase in assaults against agents during the same period.
Advocacy group Voto Latino condemned the incident, with executive director Beatriz Lopez stating, «His story is the embodiment of what it means to seek the American Dream — the same dream that drives so many of us to call this nation home. Lorenzo called the United States home for nearly 35 years, and his family deserves immediate answers that come from a completely independent process, not from the very agency that upended their lives.» The group also called for the resignation of Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
An ICE spokesperson defended the agency’s account of the incident, saying that Araujo «refused to follow multiple verbal commands, and weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer resulting in our officer firing his weapon in self-defense.» The spokesperson added that the DHS Office of Inspector General is leading an investigation into the agent-involved shooting, while FBI Houston is investigating the potential assault on a federal law enforcement officer. «This is a developing situation, and we will update the public when more information is available,» the spokesperson said.
The incident has highlighted ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Mexico over immigration enforcement, particularly as the Trump administration has ramped up deportation efforts and plans to open new ICE holding facilities. The lack of body cameras on the agents involved has also drawn criticism, with some arguing that it undermines transparency in such cases. As investigations continue, the Mexican government’s legal push is likely to further strain bilateral relations, though its practical impact remains uncertain.
