Yet Another Mexican Citizen Dies in ICE Custody

ByErick Moctezuma

This article by Erick Moctezuma originally appeared in the March 2, 2026 edition of El Universal.

The Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE) reported that it activated the consular assistance protocol after the death of a Mexican citizen in the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE).

In a bulletin, the Foreign Ministry headed by Juan Ramón de la Fuente detailed that the national was under the custody of ICE at the Processing Center in Adelanto, California.

“An immediate and thorough investigation will be demanded into the conditions that led to the deaths of our fellow citizens while in the custody of this authority, in order to determine responsibility and ensure that these events do not happen again,” he said.

The Secretariat of Foreign Affairs indicated that, given the seriousness of the events, the Mexican Consulate in San Bernardino immediately activated consular protection protocols and established urgent communication with the authorities to request information on the circumstances of the death.

Among the demands, the Consulate formally requested the medical file, custody reports and “all elements that allow for a full clarification of what happened.”

“The head of the Representation established direct contact to express condolences and provide the necessary legal support, as well as assistance with the procedures required for the repatriation of his remains,” the SRE assured.

Finally, the federal agency assured that addressing these types of situations and establishing ways to resolve them are priorities for the Federal Government.

In that regard, he stressed that the Foreign Ministry will formally request an investigation into the systemic conditions that have led to “such regrettable events as this.”

“It is reiterated that the protection of the human rights of Mexican people abroad is a priority of the Government of Mexico ,” he added.