Mexican citizen dies in ICE custody amid Trump immigration raids
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The Mexican national's death occurs amid protests against Trump’s immigration enforcement.
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A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer listens during a briefing, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md. (AP)
A Mexican citizen has died in a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Georgia under circumstances that remain unclear, according to a statement released by Mexico’s Foreign Ministry.
The death occurred on June 7 at the Georgia-based facility, where the individual was being held after a transfer from a state prison. US authorities informed the Mexican consulate in Atlanta of the incident shortly after it happened.
The death comes at a time of widespread protests across several US states, especially California, against intensified immigration enforcement raids launched by US President Donald Trump's administration.
While the official cause of death has not yet been determined, Mexico’s Foreign Ministry stated it is working closely with ICE and local officials to clarify the facts.
"Consular staff has established communication with local and ICE authorities, as well as with the individual's family members, to clarify the facts, confirm the official cause of death, and provide legal advice and support to the family," the Ministry said.
According to the Ministry, Mexican consular staff were not informed or given the opportunity to interview the detainee during his time in custody, despite their regular visits to the detention center.
Mexico investigates, explores legal action
Mexico has requested an explanation from the ICE facility where the man was held and is considering legal options to address the case.
"The consulate has requested an explanation from the (detention) center's authorities," the Ministry added. Additionally, the Foreign Ministry said it had reached out to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the state's independent investigative agency, to coordinate on the ongoing inquiry.
As tensions rise over the Trump administration’s immigration policies, this incident adds fuel to growing concerns about detainee treatment and transparency within ICE detention centers.
In related developments, an Associated Press (AP) investigation has highlighted a troubling trend: since the start of former US President Donald Trump's term, multiple deaths have been recorded in ICE facilities, including two at Florida’s overcrowded Krome Detention Center. Authorities and rights advocates describe the center as operating at nearly three times its intended capacity, with reports of overcrowding, neglect, and abuse prompting growing demands for oversight and reform.
AP reported in April that in Miami, the Krome Detention Center, America’s oldest ICE facility, has nearly tripled its intended capacity amid an enforcement surge under Trump, triggering numerous complaints of a lack of medical care, and at least three detainee deaths, including a Ukrainian man whose poor treatment may have contributed to his passing.
