The government of Mexico, through the Secretariat of Foreign Relations, demanded an investigation from the United States on Friday, following the death of a Mexican national on the night of March 25, while in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Adelanto, California. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry expressed that the Consulate of Mexico in San Bernardino was notified of the death by the migration authorities, and therefore it will “exhaust all legal and diplomatic instances to bring attention to the present problem and the attention of this case.” What happened to the Mexican who died in ICE custody? According to the agency, the national was “transferred to a hospital in Victorville, California, where he died,” although it clarified that “for the moment, the cause of death has not been officially determined.” It explained that the national consulate in San Bernardino activated the designated consular protocol, establishing contact with the national’s family to provide the corresponding consular assistance and accompaniment. It also specified that it “maintains communication with the relevant authorities to learn the cause of death, complete medical record, and prior circumstances with the objective of fully clarifying the facts.” Mexico demands investigation over Mexican's death in California Following the Mexican's death, the SRE reiterated the call to the responsible authorities so that “these regrettable cases do not continue,” for which it also demanded an immediate review of the Adelanto center “due to serious omissions and evident deficiencies in the provision of medical care to people under its custody.” Since the return of U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House, Washington has hardened its migration policy and has detained more than 177 thousand Mexicans, of whom more than a dozen have died while in custody by ICE agents. Mexicans who have died in ICE custody in the U.S. The government of Mexico reported on Wednesday that in the last year, 13 Mexicans have lost their lives in custody or during operations by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE), a situation it described as “absolutely unacceptable” and which has already motivated diplomatic protests to Washington. “It is absolutely unacceptable for the Government of Mexico, because we are talking about 13 people who have tragically lost their lives in migration operations or under ICE custody,” stated the Mexican undersecretary for North America, Roberto Velasco, during the presidential press conference. The official specified that of the deaths, four have been registered in California, three in Georgia, two in Arizona, one in Texas, one in Florida, one in Missouri, and one more in an unspecified entity. The victims were between 19 and 69 years old, and according to the reports, six deaths occurred due to medical complications, four by suicide, two during ICE operations, and one in a shootout in Dallas. Velasco detailed that the Foreign Ministry has offered support for the repatriation of remains in the 13 cases, and in legal matters, he pointed out that Mexico is already accompanying the families. With the death of the Mexican registered last Wednesday, the total number of nationals who have died under ICE protection now reaches 14.
