18th Mexican dies in US immigration custody, Mexico says

Mexico said a Mexican national died at a US immigration processing center in Laredo, Texas, making him the 18th Mexican to die in immigration custody since President Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2025.

Mexico's foreign ministry did not identify the person but said his family had been contacted. It condemned what it called “recurring deaths” of Mexican nationals in US custody or during immigration operations.

The ministry called for a prompt, thorough and transparent investigation and said it would file a complaint over the latest death. It had filed criminal complaints in July over the deaths of 17 Mexican nationals in US immigration custody.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement had not reported the latest death. At least 30 people died in US migrant detention centers last year, the largest number since 2004, the year after ICE was created.