Meksiko pokreće pravnu akciju u SAD-u zbog smrti svojih građana u pritvoru ICE-a

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has formally requested that U.S. prosecutors file criminal charges over the deaths of 17 Mexican nationals during immigration enforcement operations or while in custody, marking the nation’s most aggressive stance yet against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The announcement came after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed Mexican citizen Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during a raid in Houston on July 7. Salgado, a 52-year-old father of three, was among the 17 individuals who have died under similar circumstances since Trump returned to the presidency in early 2025. Sheinbaum made the announcement during a routine press briefing, emphasizing that the issue transcended governmental boundaries and required collective action from Mexican society. “I call on all political parties, everyone, all of Mexican society, to show solidarity with our fellow citizens in the United States,” she stated. She stressed that while Mexico seeks to maintain diplomatic ties with the U.S., it cannot remain silent in the face of alleged human rights violations. The move follows months of escalating tensions between the two countries, fueled by Trump’s increasingly aggressive immigration policies and economic pressures on Mexico. The formal request to U.S. prosecutors represents a significant escalation in Mexico’s efforts to hold the U.S. accountable for the deaths of its citizens. Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco Alvarez confirmed that the government has also sent cease-and-desist letters to detention centers where Mexican nationals have died, including the Adelanto detention center in California, where four Mexican citizens have perished. These letters demand an end to practices that may have contributed to the deaths, such as delayed medical care and detention conditions that fail to meet international standards. The decision to pursue legal action follows a series of high-profile incidents involving ICE agents. In Texas, Salgado Araujo was killed during a traffic stop, an event that has drawn scrutiny due to conflicting accounts from witnesses and officials. A lawyer representing three witnesses to the incident, Hugo Balderas-Ibarra, has stated that the victims’ families and associates dispute the U.S. government’s claim that Salgado “weaponized” his vehicle during the encounter. Instead, the witnesses allege that the ICE agent fired from the passenger side of the van without provocation. “At no point did they ever use the van to ram into the ICE agents, and at no point were these ICE agents’ lives ever in any danger,” Balderas-Ibarra said. Similar controversies have emerged in other parts of the U.S. In Maine, an ICE agent shot and killed a 26-year-old Colombian national, Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero, during a traffic stop. The incident has reignited concerns about the use of lethal force by immigration agents, particularly during traffic stops. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initially claimed that the suspect attempted to use his vehicle as a weapon, but later revised its statement to suggest that the driver was fleeing. However, local officials and advocacy groups have questioned the accuracy of these accounts, noting that the agents involved were not wearing body cameras and that the victim was authorized to work in the U.S. These incidents have fueled ongoing criticism of ICE’s tactics, especially under Trump’s leadership. Civil rights organizations and immigrant advocates have repeatedly highlighted the agency’s use of aggressive enforcement strategies, including unmarked vehicles, surprise raids, and the targeting of undocumented immigrants in public spaces. Such tactics have been criticized for fostering fear and violating civil liberties. The controversy has reached a peak with the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, in separate incidents in Minneapolis, where initial statements by top officials labeled the victims as perpetrators of “domestic terrorism.” Subsequent investigations revealed discrepancies in those narratives, leading to calls for greater transparency and accountability. As the debate intensifies, Trump has continued to defend ICE’s actions, even as the agency faces internal reviews following the recent fatalities. In a social media post, Trump praised ICE officers for their “GREAT job” and insisted that traffic stops remain essential to his deportation strategy. He warned that abandoning the tactic would allow criminals to thrive. This rhetoric has drawn further backlash from critics, who argue that the use of lethal force during traffic stops is disproportionately applied and often lacks justification. The situation underscores the deepening divide between the U.S. and Mexico, exacerbated by Trump’s economic pressure on Mexico and his support for direct U.S. military involvement against Mexican drug cartels. Despite these tensions, Sheinbaum has maintained a delicate balance between cooperation and assertiveness, working closely with Washington on issues like drug trafficking while asserting Mexico’s sovereignty. Her approach has bolstered domestic support, with her approval rating currently hovering near 68%. With multiple legal actions underway and public outrage mounting, the coming weeks will likely see increased scrutiny of ICE’s practices and potential reforms aimed at addressing the systemic issues that have led to the deaths of numerous individuals. As the fallout continues, the international community watches closely, aware that the implications extend far beyond the borders of either nation.