General Ricardo Trevilla, head of the National Defense Secretariat (Sedena), during President Claudia Sheinbaum's morning conference, mentioned that the case of the murder of the minor Heidi Mariana Pérez by a burst of military rifle fire in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, in 2022, could be considered as "disobedience to military order". This event, highlighted by the Sedena when discussing respect for human rights, is being investigated by the Attorney General's Office (FGR).
The head of the FGR, Alejandro Gertz Manero, also referred to the case, stating that it is protocol to initiate an investigation in situations where there are civilians injured or deceased in confrontations with the armed forces. He emphasized that there is not a single case in which an investigation file has not been opened immediately. Gertz mentioned that several military personnel are in prison and that all information is sent to military authorities.
Ricardo Trevilla assured that the Army systematically respects human rights in the country. He pointed out that in cases where there are injuries, military personnel provide first aid and evacuate the injured to nearby hospital centers. When there is any doubt about the conduct of a soldier, the relevant Sedena bodies and prosecutors are informed immediately.
The Mexican Army has faced questioning regarding the legality of its actions, including the recent massacre of migrants in Chiapas. The National Guard, a military branch integrated into the Sedena, has also been criticized by human rights defenders for its participation in multiple incidents that contravene international law.
The governments of Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his successor Claudia Sheinbaum have been accused of promoting the militarization of the country by assigning the Army security tasks traditionally held by the police, incorporating the National Guard into the Sedena, and giving military personnel control over various infrastructures and functions.