Amnesty International Urges U.S. Impartial Investigations into Deaths of 18 Mexicans in ICE Custody

Amnesty International (AI) urged U.S. authorities on Thursday to pursue "independent and impartial investigations" into the "lamentable" deaths of 18 Mexican nationals during immigration operations or in detention centers run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"The U.S. government is obligated to independently investigate all deaths and reports of abuse occurring under ICE custody," AI stated in a post on X.

The organization's request comes after it was confirmed that on Tuesday, a Mexican national died after being struck by a vehicle following an immigration operation in Florida, adding to other recent cases involving ICE agents. In response to this situation, Amnesty International welcomed the filing of criminal complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice by the Mexican government.

At the same time, it reminded that states have the "obligation to protect the life" of all persons "regardless of their legal status or nationality," as well as to "guarantee dignified conditions of detention when it is strictly necessary."

"Amnesty International has documented arbitrary detentions, unsanitary conditions, lack of medical care, obstacles to accessing legal representation, prolonged isolation, sleep deprivation, and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment," the organization denounced regarding immigration raids and detention center conditions.

The latest death occurs amid growing scrutiny of ICE tactics, as in the past week two men died from agent gunfire while driving: Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a father of three, on July 7 in Texas, and Colombian national Joan Sebastián Guerrero, 26, on Monday in Maine.

In addition to filing complaints in the U.S., the Mexican government has asked Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to gather information on these events. Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday requested that Washington refrain from "criminalizing" migration and act with respect for human rights.