A fatal shooting in Houston on Tuesday has ignited a diplomatic firestorm between Mexico and the United States. The victim, identified as Salgado, was killed by ICE agents during an operation.
The Department of Homeland Security claimed the shooting happened in self-defense. According to a DHS statement, the incident involved an evasion of arrest and the weaponisation of a vehicle.
Four Democratic Congress members have rejected this version of events. Representatives Sylvia Garcia, Al Green, Lizzie Fletcher and Christian Menefee demanded an independent investigation in a letter to DHS.
The lawmakers argued this was not the first time ICE agents used unnecessary, deadly force. They cited the January deaths of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
The tragedy has pushed Mexico to seek legal retribution. Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said President Claudia Sheinbaum instructed him to file criminal complaints in the US.
Velasco reported that 14 Mexicans died while in ICE custody. He added that another three citizens died during ICE arrest operations.
Mexico now aims to have these deaths investigated as criminal matters rather than administrative errors. This shift suggests a move toward using US courts to check federal power.
Protests continued in Houston on Wednesday. The outcome of the Mexican criminal complaints will determine if federal agents face accountability for the death of Salgado.
