Mexico initiates criminal case against United States DOJ, state AGs over ICE deaths: Monday’s mañanera recapped

Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds

🇺🇸 SRE to file criminal complaints in US over deaths of 17 Mexicans in ICE custody: Sheinbaum said the Foreign Affairs Ministry (SRE) would file complaints on Monday with the U.S. Department of Justice and state Attorneys General over the deaths of 17 Mexican nationals in ICE detention or ICE operations. She called the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, shot by an ICE officer in Houston last week, “practically murder,” and urged Mexican society and political parties to show solidarity with compatriots in the U.S.

⚖️ Sheinbaum distances government from new Ayotzinapa report: Responding to a CNDH report that found the army wasn’t involved in the 2014 disappearance of 43 Ayotzinapa students, Sheinbaum said her government had no role in producing it and asked the Interior Ministry to review its findings before issuing an official position. She stressed that the priority remains solidarity with the students’ families and resolving the case.

🚗 No concern about other automakers leaving Mexico, Sheinbaum says: Asked about Toyota’s move of Tacoma production from Tijuana to Texas, the president said she isn’t concerned other manufacturers will follow, and teased that one automaker — unnamed for now — is actually looking to open a new plant in Mexico, with details expected this week or next.

Why today’s mañanera matters

Today’s mañanera was significant as President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed that the government is acting expeditiously in its decision to file criminal complaints in the United States in connection with the deaths of 17 Mexicans who have died in U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) detention centers or in ICE operations since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House in early 2025 and commenced an aggressive deportation campaign.

Also of note was Sheinbaum’s response to a new National Human Rights Commission report that asserts that the Mexican army was not involved in the 2014 abduction and presumed murder of 43 young men who were studying to become teachers at a college in the southern state of Guerrero. The army has long been suspected of involvement in the case and soldiers and ex-soldiers have been arrested in connection with the crime, including a man who was detained in the United States last month.

Sheinbaum: SRE to file criminal complaints in US on Monday

Sheinbaum told reporters that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) would file criminal complaints in the United States on Monday “due to the deaths of 17 compatriots” in the custody of ICE or in ICE operations.

She said that the SRE would file the complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice and with state Attorney General’s Offices. Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco first announced last Thursday that the SRE would file criminal complaints in the United States against “whoever is responsible” for the deaths of Mexicans under ICE custody or in ICE operations.

Sheinbaum said on Monday that the last Mexican to die in an ICE-related incident was “practically murdered.”

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot by an ICE officer in Houston, Texas, last Tuesday.

Sheinbaum said that local authorities in Houston are investigating the incident, adding that “we understand” that the U.S. government is investigating as well.

She also said that Velasco had been in contact with U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson to inform him of what the Mexican government was planning to do to defend Mexicans in the United States.

“He was very understanding of our concern about alleged violations of human rights of Mexicans in detention centers, and also of three Mexicans who have died in ICE operations,” Sheinbaum said.

“… I think that this is an issue that isn’t just for the government of Mexico,” she said.

“I make a call to all the political parties, to all of society … to show solidarity with our compatriots in the United States,” Sheinbaum said.

“I don’t think that anyone thinks this situation is good,” she said.

“… I make this call and I hope you are receptive and all of us speak out in defense of Mexicans abroad.”

Sheinbaum distances Mexican government from new Ayotzinapa report

A reporter asked the president about a new 867-page “recommendation” from the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) related to the 2014 abduction and presumed murder in Guerrero of 43 students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College.

🔻 “Nosotros no participamos de ninguna manera en ese informe, eso tiene que quedar muy claro”: La presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum se deslinda del informe de la CNDH sobre el caso Ayotzinapa. Dijo que su gobierno no participó en su elaboración y que tampoco sabía cuándo sería… pic.twitter.com/vAVcAG64jV

— Animal Político (@Pajaropolitico) July 13, 2026

“What is your opinion? Because there is a lot of criticism, including from the parents [of the students] and civil society organizations that have pointed out [the CNDH] practically exonerates the army and dismisses the investigations that had already been carried out in relation to this case,” the reporter said.

Sheinbaum said she asked the Interior Ministry to carry out an “exhaustive review of the report in order to be able to present an opinion” on behalf of the government.

She stressed that the government “didn’t participate in any way in that report.”

“That has to be made very clear. The government of Mexico didn’t know [the CNHD] was going to publish last week. We didn’t participate in any way in the report. … We might agree, or might not agree, with parts of the report or its overall vision,” Sheinbaum said.

“That’s why I asked the Interior Ministry to do this analysis. What’s more important for us is obviously solidarity with the mothers and fathers and solving this case, which is a wound not just for the parents of the 43 Ayotzinapa students, but also for Mexico,” she said.

The president noted that various soldiers are detained in connection with the Ayotzinapa case and are subject to ongoing legal procedures.

“Maybe the question — which I don’t want to answer now — is whether these soldiers participated individually [in the crime] due to a link they may have had at this time with a group,” Sheinbaum said, apparently referring to the Guerreros Unidos crime gang.

She said that the alleged involvement of the army as an “institution” entailed “different questions.”

The CNDH asserted that Mexican soldiers didn’t participate in “any of the violent events against the students.”

Sheinbaum: No concerns about other automakers moving production out of Mexico

In light of Toyota’s decision to move production of its Tacoma model from Tijuana to San Antonio, Texas, a reporter asked the president whether the government was concerned that other automakers with plants in Mexico could leave the country.

Toyota set to move production out of Tijuana and into Texas

Sheinbaum responded that the government wasn’t concerned, declaring that “on the contrary,” there is an automaker — which she didn’t name — that wants to establish a plant in Mexico. She said she would present information on that automaker’s plans either this week or next week.

Vehicles manufactured in Mexico are currently subject to a 25% tariff when shipped to the United States. However, U.S. content in Mexican vehicles is exempt from the duty, effectively lowering the tariff for virtually all vehicles shipped north.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])