The United States government on Friday returned “cease and desist” letters to Mexican Ambassador Roberto Lazzeri after the administration of Claudia Sheinbaum attempted to direct the actions of U.S. personnel in detention centers. According to the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, officials rejected the letters because they sought to govern personnel operating on U.S. sovereign territory.
U.S. State Department Rejects Mexican Legal Demands
Michael Kozak, the diplomat leading the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, met with Ambassador Lazzeri in Washington to return the communications. The letters, sent by Mexico last Monday, were designed as “cease and desist” notices to stop illegal activities and prevent their recurrence in migrant detention centers.
Kozak recommended that the Mexican government share its concerns through standard diplomatic channels instead of legal directives.
Did You Know? The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) sent these letters to detention centers managed by private entities, though these facilities house people detained by federal agents.
Deaths of Mexican Migrants and ICE Operations
The diplomatic tension follows the deaths of at least 17 Mexican migrants this year at the hands of ICE, occurring both in custody and during control operations. One specific target of the SRE’s letters was the Adelanto detention center near Los Angeles, California, where four Mexicans have died.
The SRE stated the goal of these writings was to end “actions or omissions” that led to deaths, specifically citing the denial of prompt medical care and policies that clash with medical and penitentiary standards. On July 7, the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas, further escalated the conflict. Mexican authorities reported that an ICE agent shot Salgado Araujo after he resisted arrest and drove a vehicle toward federal agents.
Expert Insight: By utilizing “cease and desist” letters, Mexico attempted to establish a formal legal paper trail. In U.S. procedural jargon, this is often the first formal step toward filing civil actions, suggesting that Mexico may be preparing for litigation if diplomatic channels fail to yield results.
Rising Mortality Rates Under the Trump Administration
The current friction coincides with a broader pattern of violence and deaths linked to the return of Donald Trump to the White House in January 2025. A Human Rights Watch (HRW) report from late June documented 52 deaths in ICE custody during the first 500 days of the Trump presidency, which the organization says reflects a “strong increase in the mortality rate.”
Other recent fatalities include 26-year-old Colombian Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, who died Monday in Biddeford, Maine, during an ICE incident. In Minneapolis, poet Renée Good was shot dead six months ago, and intensive care nurse Alex Pretti was shot in the back on January 24, 2026, during ICE and Border Patrol operations that were eventually halted by public pressure.
HRW has called on the U.S. The organization claims that ICE severely limits the information it provides to the public, families, and Congress, making oversight "practically impossible."
Potential Legal and Diplomatic Next Steps
Mexico has already initiated several simultaneous protest actions. The SRE filed a complaint with the U.S.
Because the returned letters are viewed as a "first formal step" for civil lawsuits, Mexico could potentially move toward filing civil actions in U.S. courts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the U.S. return the letters sent by Mexico?
According to the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, the letters were returned because they attempted to direct the actions of U.S. government personnel operating within U.S. sovereign territory.
How many Mexican migrants have died this year according to the source?
At least 17 Mexican migrants have died this year at the hands of ICE, either while in custody or during control operations.
What does Human Rights Watch say about ICE custody deaths?
HRW reported 52 deaths in ICE custody during the first 500 days of the Trump presidency and stated that ICE’s restriction of information makes oversight practically impossible.
Do you believe diplomatic channels are sufficient for addressing human rights concerns in foreign detention centers?
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