Mexico Escalates Pressure on US With Criminal Charges Over 17 Deaths in Immigration Custody

Mexico announced July 9 it will file criminal complaints against US immigration and law enforcement officials for 17 Mexican nationals who died in ICE custody or during arrests. The move targets both state and federal levels, testing President Sheinbaum's leverage with Washington while maintaining trade and security ties. Federal agents typically face legal barriers—qualified immunity and sovereign immunity—that shield them from prosecution in on-duty incidents.