The Attorney General's Office for Justice of Mexico City (FGJCDMX) is investigating whether minors from the Casa Las Mercedes shelter were sent to work in private homes, following a complaint from a 17-year-old girl who claimed she was sexually assaulted outside the institution. Attorney General Bertha Alcalde Luján mentioned during an event in the Tláhuac borough that an investigation remains open into the transfer of girls, boys, and adolescents to perform domestic activities in private properties. She detailed that, according to the investigations, the director of the shelter, Ángela “N”, allegedly irregularly transferred the teenager in March 2025 to the home of her mother, Claudia “N”. At that location, the young woman stated that she was sexually attacked by Aquiles “N”, — Ángela's brother— who allegedly supplied her with a substance to prevent her from defending herself. The Prosecutor's Office added that the victim claimed to have suffered “threats, harassment, and intimidation” to avoid filing a complaint. Despite this, the teenager wrote a letter to the Mexico City DIF System describing what happened. The official stated that they recognize and appreciate “the courage of the victim, as well as the timely and committed action of the staff of DIF Mexico City”, whose intervention made it possible to activate the complaint before the Public Ministry. Derived from the proceedings and expert opinions, the FGJ-CDMX obtained and executed an arrest warrant against Aquiles “N” for his probable responsibility for the crime of aggravated rape, and he remains in the Varonil Oriente Preventive Detention Center. Alcalde Luján indicated that, at the request of the DIF Protection Prosecutor, a control judge ordered protective measures that include a prohibition on contact with victims and witnesses, as well as the delivery of personal documents, police custody of the properties, and the video-recorded transfer of minors to emergency homes and safe shelters. These measures, she explained, were carried out on October 29 with the support of the Citizen Security Secretariat, which allowed the relocation of at least 80 girls, boys, and adolescents to the facilities of the DIF of Mexico City. The prosecutor stated that the case has shocked the public and the social assistance community, and assured that the institution will maintain a thorough investigation. “It is essential that those responsible face the legal consequences of their actions,” she declared. On the same day, when the Prosecutor's Office actions were carried out, the Casa de Las Mercedes Foundation issued a communiqué to reject the allegations against it and blamed a reporter for disseminating what it considered “false and inaccurate information”. It stated that for 30 years it has accompanied girls, adolescents, and women survivors of violence; in addition, it affirmed that it conducts itself with ethics, transparency, and works with truth and transparency in the defense of Human Rights. After that date, the organization has not issued any further statements.
