Mexico Will Bring Death of Mexicans in ICE custody in US Before IACHR
This article by Rafael Ramírez originally appeared in the March 30, 2026 edition of El Sol de México.
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that her government will undertake new diplomatic and protest actions following the death of another Mexican in the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a detention center in Los Angeles, California.
In this way, Mexico will bring the situation of Mexicans in ICE detention centers before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) for the first time, as it will not limit itself to a diplomatic note in the face of these serious events, the President indicated.
Letters will also be sent to US authorities to complain about the “deficient medical care” at the Adelanto center in California, where the deceased Mexican man was being held.
“We are going to take further action to protest what happened,” Sheinbaum stated at her morning press conference this Monday. Sheinbaum read a statement from the Mexican Foreign Secretariat that mentioned the actions they will take, among which she cited the presentation of a telematic hearing before the IACHR on the people who died in ICE detention centers.
Mexican officials will also hold meetings in Los Angeles with relatives of the deceased and with human rights defenders, with the aim of “generating community support” and putting pressure on U.S. authorities. Letters will also be sent to federal legislators from California , the state attorney general, and the governor, Democrat Gavin Newsom.
“Today the Undersecretary for North America (Roberto Velasco) will address the issue with the United States Ambassador to Mexico, Ronald D. Johnson,” the president added.
Meanwhile, the Secretariat of External Relations (SRE) reported that it has already requested a formal investigation into the death of the Mexican national, which occurred on March 25, while he was in the custody of U.S. immigration authorities.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the Mexican consulate in San Bernardino was notified that the detained person was transferred to a hospital in Victorville, California, where he later died, although the cause of death has not yet been determined.
The agency indicated that it will follow up on the case to clarify the facts and ensure that responsibilities are determined, in addition to providing consular support to the family members.
Sheinbaum explained that Mexican authorities will hold a press conference in Los Angeles to announce the official position and the actions that will be taken in response to this new case.
The President emphasized that the detention center where the death occurred has had previous incidents, which increases the Mexican government’s concern about the conditions in which its nationals are being held in the United States.
“There have been several incidents at that center, which is why the conference will be held there,” he explained.
The President reiterated that her administration will maintain an active policy of defending the rights of Mexicans abroad, particularly in cases involving violations or possible negligence in immigration detention centers .
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