The Government of Mexico formally requested the U.S. authorities to clarify the circumstances in which a Mexican immigrant died while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the state of Georgia.
The case has generated concern both in the migrant community and among human rights organizations, in a context marked by the tightening of U.S. immigration policy.
Through a press release, the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta informed that the Mexican Foreign Ministry regrets the death of a Mexican national in an immigration processing center and that it is already coordinating with U.S. authorities to demand a “prompt, transparent and exhaustive” investigation into what happened.
According to local media reports, the deceased migrant is 34-year-old Heber Sánchez Domínguez.
So far, the U.S. Government has not publicly reported the official cause of his death or the specific conditions under which he died, which has increased the uncertainty and the demand for clear answers.
The Ministry of Foreign Buzzy (SRE) indicated that consular personnel have contacted the family of the deceased to provide accompaniment, legal guidance and consular support during this process.
He also confirmed that the necessary steps will be taken for the repatriation of the body to Mexico “as soon as possible and in accordance with the wishes of his relatives”.
“The Government of Mexico expresses its sincere condolences to the family of the Mexican national and reiterates its commitment to provide protection and consular assistance to the Mexican community abroad,” the official statement said.
This case comes at a time of growing concern over the number of deaths in immigration custody in the United States.
Official data reveal that at least 30 people died in ICE detention centers during 2025, the highest number recorded in the last twenty years.
In the first nine days of 2026, at least four additional deaths have already been counted.
Civil organizations and human rights defenders have warned that the increase in detentions, the saturation of migration centers and the conditions of confinement can pose serious risks to the physical and mental health of migrants, especially those with previous medical conditions or in situations of extreme stress.
Meanwhile, the family of Heber Sánchez Domínguez awaits answers and justice, in a scenario that once again puts the conditions of immigration detention and the responsibility of federal authorities to protect the lives of people in their custody at the center of the debate.
