Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds
- ⚰️ Another Mexican dies in ICE custody: Sheinbaum acknowledged the death of Emiliano Andrade Covarrubias, 56, who died at a Texas detention center on Saturday. She said he was detained in June and, according to his family, had diabetes and high blood pressure and “probably didn’t have all his medications.” Sheinbaum said Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco contacted Andrade’s family on Sunday. The SRE says the case brings to 18 the number of Mexicans who have died in ICE custody or during immigration operations since Donald Trump began his second term as president. Sheinbaum said Mexico will file a complaint in the U.S. because “there should be protection of human rights.”
- 🎸 Sheinbaum praises Los Tigres del Norte after NPR Tiny Desk performance: Asked about the band’s pro-immigrant concert last week, the president said the group is a “symbol” of cultural identity for Mexicans abroad. She highlighted lyrics from their song “Somos más Americanos” and commended the band for defending Mexican immigrants in the United States.
Why today’s mañanera matters
At her Monday morning press conference, President Sheinbaum spoke about the death of another Mexican in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), 18 Mexicans have now died in ICE custody or during immigration operations carried out since Jan. 20, 2025, the date U.S. President Donald Trump began his second term. The deaths have occurred amid the Trump administration’s illegal immigration crackdown.
The Mexican government has condemned the crackdown and taken legal action aimed at holding accountable anyone who contributed to the deaths of Mexicans in ICE custody or during ICE operations.
Sheinbaum is a staunch advocate for Mexicans in the United States and their rights. At today’s mañanera, she spoke glowingly about a group of like-minded individuals — the Sinaloa-founded, California-based norteño band Los Tigres del Norte. Her remarks about the Grammy Award-winning band on Monday came just over a month after she met with its Mexican-born members at the National Palace.
Another Mexican dies in ICE custody
Sheinbaum acknowledged that another Mexican had died while being held in an immigration detention center in the United States.
Emiliano Andrade Covarrubias, 56, was found unresponsive by staff at the Rio Grande Processing Center in Laredo, Texas, during a security check at around 10 a.m. Saturday, according to The Texas Tribune.
Andrade Covarrubias is the seventh person to die while detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas this year, the Austin-based news outlet reported.
Sheinbaum said that Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco contacted the family of the deceased man on Sunday, and noted that the SRE issued a statement regarding the death.
“We’re also going to file a complaint in the United States because there should be protection of human rights,” she said.
“This compatriot was detained in June. His family told us that he had diabetes and high blood pressure and he probably didn’t have all his medications,” Sheinbaum said.
“… As we have always said, [migrants] are heroes and heroines for us because they left their towns and cities to seek a better life and support their families,” she said.
“And they help the United States economy a lot,” Sheinbaum added.
In its statement, the SRE said that the Consulate General of Mexico in Laredo had “asked U.S. authorities for a prompt, thorough, and transparent investigation to clarify the circumstances of the death and determine whether anyone bears responsibility.”
“The Government of Mexico expresses its deep concern over the repeated deaths of Mexican nationals in custody or during immigration operations in the United States,” the ministry said.
“This case brings to 18 the number of Mexican nationals who have died in these circumstances since January 20, 2025. The situation demands an effective response from U.S. authorities to safeguard the lives, physical integrity, and human rights of migrants,” the SRE said.
The ministry noted that it has already taken diplomatic and legal action over the deaths of Mexicans in ICE custody, including by “sending diplomatic notes to the State Department, filing complaints with the appropriate authorities, and working to help families obtain legal representation.”
The SRE said it has also “strengthened consular protection and its monitoring of detention conditions for Mexican nationals.”
“The Foreign Ministry will continue to use every diplomatic and legal avenue available to it. That includes a complaint it will send to the Webb County district attorney asking that the facts of the case [involving Andrade Covarrubias] be clarified,” the SRE statement said.
Sheinbaum praises Los Tigres del Norte after pro-immigrant NPR performance
A reporter asked the president about Los Tigres del Norte’s NPR Tiny Desk performance last week as well as NPR host Felix Contreras‘ emotional message before the concert.
“Our community is under attack,” said Contreras, a Mexican American.
“And it’s not the first time. You can go back to 1848 when they changed the border. You can go back to after the Second World War during the so-called Operation Wetback. It takes away our humanity,” he said.
Sheinbaum said that Los Tigres del Norte and “many other musical groups” that play “Mexican music genres” represent “cultural identity” for “Mexicans who live abroad.”
“And in this, Los Tigres del Norte have had a very important role,” she said.
“Not just because of the quality of their music but also because they represent a symbol. They have songs that in a few words and verses say a lot,” Sheinbaum said.
“They have this song [Somos más Americanos] that says, ‘Yo no crucé la frontera, la frontera me cruzó [I didn’t cross the border, the border crossed me],” she noted.
“… They’re very respectful of politics in the United States,” Sheinbaum added.
“What they do is play music and defend Mexicans abroad,” she said.
In an article headlined “Los Tigres Del Norte take over Tiny Desk with classic songs and a pro-immigrant message,” The Los Angeles Times reported that the theme of “immigrant struggle within the U.S. was top of mind when the group performed at NPR’s Washington, D.C., offices.”
“… Opening with the 2001 track [Somos más Americanos] was notable as the song flips jingoist U.S. narratives about who can call themselves American,” the Times reported.
“The lyrics assert that Mexicans are more American than ‘gringos’ and highlight how a large swath of the U.S. once belonged to Mexico.”
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
The post Sheinbaum government files new complaint in US after 18th Mexican death in ICE custody: Monday’s mañanera recapped appeared first on Mexico News Daily