Aa
Mexico to Texas on convicted cop killer: Don't execute our citizen
(CNN) -- Mexico's government is trying to block the execution of a convicted cop killer in Texas this week, arguing that it would violate international law.
The case of Mexican citizen Edgar Tamayo Arias is the latest battle in a dispute over the rights of the foreign-born on American death rows. And U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said it could put Americans abroad at risk.
Tamayo, 46, was convicted in the 1994 murder of a Houston police officer, whom he shot three times in the back of the head, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
His attorneys are scheduled to present oral arguments Tuesday, calling for a preliminary injunction to stop the state's governor and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles from considering Tamayo's clemency petition until the process is "adequate and fair," read a statement from his team.
Mexico's Foreign Ministry said Sunday that going ahead with Arias' execution by injection, scheduled for Wednesday, would violate international law because Tamayo wasn't advised of his right to receive consular assistance.
This isn't the first time Mexico has stepped in to try to stop the execution of one of its citizens.
Mexican officials made similar arguments -- unsuccessfully -- before executions in 2008 and 2011.
"The Mexican government is opposed to the death penalty and has decided to use the necessary resources to protect its citizens who are in danger of receiving this sentence," the ministry said.
Kerry has also weighed in on Tamayo's case, arguing that setting an execution date is "extremely detrimental to the interests of the United States."
"I want to be clear: I have no reason to doubt the facts of Mr. Tamayo's conviction, and as a former prosecutor, I have no sympathy for anyone who would murder a police officer," Kerry wrote. "This is a process issue I am raising because it could impact the way American citizens are treated in other countries."
In a response to Kerry, Texas Deputy Attorney General Don Clemmer said he would meet with representatives from the Justice Department and the State Department over the matter.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 2004 that the United States had violated the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the treaty that lays out rights of people detained in other nations, in the cases of dozens of Mexican nationals. The judges ordered the United States to provide "review and reconsideration" of the sentences and convictions of those Mexican prisoners as a result.
Mexico's Foreign Ministry argues that hasn't happened in Tamayo's case.
It's a case Tamayo's lawyer had made as well in attempts to stay his execution.
"The Mexican Foreign minister, the U.S. Secretary of State, evangelical and Latino leaders, former Texas Gov. Mark White and legal and international organizations have called on the The Texas Board of Pardon and Paroles and Gov. (Rick) Perry to halt the execution of Mr. Tamayo based on the violation of his consular rights, yet the Texas Board of Pardons has refused to even meet to discuss Mr. Tamayo's clemency petition," attorney Sandra Babcock said in a statement.
"Mr. Tamayo was never informed of his treaty rights at the time of his arrest, and no court has agreed to review that treaty violation and the consequences that it had for his conviction and sentence," she told CNN affiliate KTRK.
Prosecutors have disputed that argument.
"Since 1994, this case has gone to all the courts that it can possibly go to -- the state courts, the federal courts," Roe Wilson, assistant district attorney in Harris County, Texas, told KTRK. "It has been reviewed."
SOURCE: http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/20/justice/mexico-texas-tamayo-execution/index.html?hpt=ju_c2
The case of Mexican citizen Edgar Tamayo Arias is the latest battle in a dispute over the rights of the foreign-born on American death rows. And U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said it could put Americans abroad at risk.
Tamayo, 46, was convicted in the 1994 murder of a Houston police officer, whom he shot three times in the back of the head, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
His attorneys are scheduled to present oral arguments Tuesday, calling for a preliminary injunction to stop the state's governor and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles from considering Tamayo's clemency petition until the process is "adequate and fair," read a statement from his team.
Mexico's Foreign Ministry said Sunday that going ahead with Arias' execution by injection, scheduled for Wednesday, would violate international law because Tamayo wasn't advised of his right to receive consular assistance.
This isn't the first time Mexico has stepped in to try to stop the execution of one of its citizens.
Mexican officials made similar arguments -- unsuccessfully -- before executions in 2008 and 2011.
"The Mexican government is opposed to the death penalty and has decided to use the necessary resources to protect its citizens who are in danger of receiving this sentence," the ministry said.
Kerry has also weighed in on Tamayo's case, arguing that setting an execution date is "extremely detrimental to the interests of the United States."
"I want to be clear: I have no reason to doubt the facts of Mr. Tamayo's conviction, and as a former prosecutor, I have no sympathy for anyone who would murder a police officer," Kerry wrote. "This is a process issue I am raising because it could impact the way American citizens are treated in other countries."
In a response to Kerry, Texas Deputy Attorney General Don Clemmer said he would meet with representatives from the Justice Department and the State Department over the matter.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 2004 that the United States had violated the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the treaty that lays out rights of people detained in other nations, in the cases of dozens of Mexican nationals. The judges ordered the United States to provide "review and reconsideration" of the sentences and convictions of those Mexican prisoners as a result.
Mexico's Foreign Ministry argues that hasn't happened in Tamayo's case.
It's a case Tamayo's lawyer had made as well in attempts to stay his execution.
"The Mexican Foreign minister, the U.S. Secretary of State, evangelical and Latino leaders, former Texas Gov. Mark White and legal and international organizations have called on the The Texas Board of Pardon and Paroles and Gov. (Rick) Perry to halt the execution of Mr. Tamayo based on the violation of his consular rights, yet the Texas Board of Pardons has refused to even meet to discuss Mr. Tamayo's clemency petition," attorney Sandra Babcock said in a statement.
"Mr. Tamayo was never informed of his treaty rights at the time of his arrest, and no court has agreed to review that treaty violation and the consequences that it had for his conviction and sentence," she told CNN affiliate KTRK.
Prosecutors have disputed that argument.
"Since 1994, this case has gone to all the courts that it can possibly go to -- the state courts, the federal courts," Roe Wilson, assistant district attorney in Harris County, Texas, told KTRK. "It has been reviewed."
SOURCE: http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/20/justice/mexico-texas-tamayo-execution/index.html?hpt=ju_c2
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/30/deportations-plummet-2013-lowest-2007/?page=all
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/12/19/the-real-deal-on-obamas-deportation-record/
Looks like nothing firm but he has not deported more then Bush but is on pace to.
Well I say well done. But begs a question...is this because of the boarder security?
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/12/19/the-real-deal-on-obamas-deportation-record/
Looks like nothing firm but he has not deported more then Bush but is on pace to.
Well I say well done. But begs a question...is this because of the boarder security?
I dug this up:
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/316080/it-depends-what-meaning-br-deportations-mark-krikorian
Going back for more... here's another:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/01/deportation-numbers-obama_n_1314916.html
I'll keep looking, but I don't think anyone really has concrete figures.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/316080/it-depends-what-meaning-br-deportations-mark-krikorian
Going back for more... here's another:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/01/deportation-numbers-obama_n_1314916.html
I'll keep looking, but I don't think anyone really has concrete figures.
Actually, I just read that the Obama administration has deported more illegals in the last 6yrs than GWB did in 8.
It was in the commets section of Reuters, so not sure if it's valid.
If someone can dig up the stat, please share source.
It was in the commets section of Reuters, so not sure if it's valid.
If someone can dig up the stat, please share source.
Common sense arguments will get you no where in this world today. Don't you know that?
So you can't ask if they are a citizen, Obama said not to deport illegals, excuse me Undocumented people looking for a better life. So not only do they break the law by coming here, they can't be held to the same standards as our citizens?
So you can't ask if they are a citizen, Obama said not to deport illegals, excuse me Undocumented people looking for a better life. So not only do they break the law by coming here, they can't be held to the same standards as our citizens?
(that's the ACLU's doing, btw. why on earth they're so worried about non-citizens rights, is beyond me. AMERICAN Civil Liberties Union. AMERICAN! spending too much time fighting for the rights of people who don't need/want their rights fought for. such a noble, liberal, cause. way to go ACLU!!!)
"Mr. Tamayo was never informed of his treaty rights at the time of his arrest..."
Law enforcement isn't allowed to inquire if one is a citizen or not (not sure if this is just in Texas, or all over the U.S.).
Since you can't ask, there's no way you would even KNOW to advise the person of their "treaty rights".
Not sure how one could ever HOPE to abide by this (informing a foreign national of their treaty rights at the time of said persons arrest).
Law enforcement isn't allowed to inquire if one is a citizen or not (not sure if this is just in Texas, or all over the U.S.).
Since you can't ask, there's no way you would even KNOW to advise the person of their "treaty rights".
Not sure how one could ever HOPE to abide by this (informing a foreign national of their treaty rights at the time of said persons arrest).
Dear Mexico,
Stop murdering our police officers.
And don't worry, we won't execute any more of your citizens if they stay home and don't come here. We'll be happy to release this convict back to you after his punishment has been served.
Yours truly,
Texas
Stop murdering our police officers.
And don't worry, we won't execute any more of your citizens if they stay home and don't come here. We'll be happy to release this convict back to you after his punishment has been served.
Yours truly,
Texas
You must join this user group in order to participate in this discussion.
You are reading content posted in the Current Events . . . Group
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
