Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is weighing legal action against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the tragic death of a Mexican farmworker during a controversial immigration raid in California.
Jaime Alanís Garcia died after falling roughly 30 feet from a rooftop while reportedly fleeing federal agents during a July 10 raid at a farm in Camarillo, Ventura County. He sustained fatal injuries, including a broken neck and skull, and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
According to ABC7, the raid—one of at least two large-scale ICE operations in Southern California that day—also drew clashes between federal agents and protesters at the scene.
Garcia’s death has sparked outrage in Mexico and prompted President Sheinbaum to publicly condemn the incident.
“We are supporting the family, we are in contact with them, and we’re also exploring the possibility of filing a complaint in the United States,” Sheinbaum said during a press conference. “This is unacceptable.”
She added that Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reviewing the case, emphasizing, “There must not be another case like this one. That’s why the complaint must be filed in U.S. courts.”
In response, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin claimed Garcia was not in ICE or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody. “Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a greenhouse and fell 30 feet. CBP immediately called for a medivac to get him medical attention as quickly as possible,” she said.
Despite the DHS statement, the circumstances surrounding Garcia’s death remain in dispute—and pressure is mounting on both sides of the border for answers and accountability.