Mexico presses U.S. for investigations into 17 migrant deaths in ICE custody

Mexico continues its effort to hold U.S. officials accountable for the deaths of 17 Mexican migrants in ICE custody. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Roberto Velasco said the government has submitted 20 complaints, of which only four have elicited a response, and has spent over $24,000 to return the bodies to families. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged a full investigation of ICE and the private contractors operating detention facilities, referencing the death of 19-year-old Royer Pérez, whose case was initially ruled a suicide but later questioned by detainees and a medical examiner.

Prosecutors in Florida, Illinois, California and Texas have only confirmed receipt of the complaints, and district attorneys in several cities have done the same. Mexico also appealed to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, targeting companies such as the GEO Group. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the matter would be forwarded to the U.N. Human Rights Council for independent consideration.