Mexico will request criminal charges over 17 Mexicans who died in ICE custody or during immigration enforcement operations by the Trump administration, officials said Thursday.

Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco's announcement Thursday morning further escalated tensions with the United States, as Mexico's government has sharply criticized the treatment of its citizens under President Trump's push to increase deportations.

The request, which carries no legal weight, will be submitted to state prosecutors' offices and the U.S. Department of Justice, asking them to consider criminal charges against those responsible for the deaths.

It will be accompanied by civil lawsuits against the companies that operate the detention centers in an effort to put an end to human rights violations in those facilities, Velasco said.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that Mexico decided to  move beyond diplomatic channels  and escalate its complaints after an ICE agent killed Mexican citizen Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston this week.

 We are going to do everything in our power, because we cannot stand silent  in the face of the deaths of Mexicans  whose only crime is working honestly in the United States,  Sheinbaum said.

Salgado Araujo had been living in the country for decades. He was transporting a work crew to a housing construction site when he was shot. His family demanded a thorough investigation into what happened.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Thursday that the ICE officers were looking for a different person when they stopped his vehicle.

 After receiving a credible tip from our law enforcement partners, our officers conducted surveillance on a target's address. Weeks prior to the incident, they noted two white vans at the property,  DHS said.  On July 7, officers were almost at the target's address when they observed a white van with an individual who resembled the target. Officers then initiated the vehicle stop. 

DHS initially said Tuesday that ICE officers were targeting Salgado Araujo because he was living in the country without legal permission. The d

#cbsnews   #crimewatchdallas