New York Times: By Fernanda Santos. TUCSON — A decision by a federal judge on Wednesday paved the way for the most controversial section of Arizona’s sweeping immigration legislation, requiring the authorities to verify the status of people who they suspect are in the country illegally, to finally take effect.
In denying a request by a coalition of civil rights groups to bar the provision, commonly referred to as “show me your papers,” Judge Susan Bolton of United States District Court in Phoenix adopted the same wait-and-see approach suggested by the Supreme Court in June, saying that the measure could be challenged “as interpreted and applied after it goes into effect.” Read more.
The MexicoBlog of the Americas Program, a fiscally sponsored program of the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), is written by Laura Carlsen. I monitor and analyze international press on Mexico, with a focus on security, immigration, human rights and social movements for peace and justice, from a feminist perspective. And sometimes I simply muse.
Showing posts with label U.S. Courts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S. Courts. Show all posts
Sep 9, 2012
Aug 27, 2012
In Mexico, Rehearsing to Inject Drama Into the Courtroom
NY Times: Karla Zabludovsky. MEXICO CITY — The witness’s testimony was beginning to show cracks. He grew visibly tense, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the table harder.
Catalina León, the defense lawyer cross-examining the witness in a triple murder case, had zeroed in on his inconsistencies. Indeed, the witness had witnessed little at all, having been standing at an angle that made it impossible for him to identify one of the men arrested in the crime.
“We were having a fit of laughter because they didn’t expect it and were very angry,” said Ms. León of the opposing counsel during a break.
Such tough questioning may seem the bedrock of courtroom justice in the United States, but here in Mexico, where trials are decided by judges and rely almost entirely on written briefs, the lively exchange was a rare sight. Rare enough, in fact, that it was still just a rehearsal, part of a training session conducted by American and Mexican prosecutors as this country revamps its justice system. Read more.
Catalina León, the defense lawyer cross-examining the witness in a triple murder case, had zeroed in on his inconsistencies. Indeed, the witness had witnessed little at all, having been standing at an angle that made it impossible for him to identify one of the men arrested in the crime.
“We were having a fit of laughter because they didn’t expect it and were very angry,” said Ms. León of the opposing counsel during a break.
Such tough questioning may seem the bedrock of courtroom justice in the United States, but here in Mexico, where trials are decided by judges and rely almost entirely on written briefs, the lively exchange was a rare sight. Rare enough, in fact, that it was still just a rehearsal, part of a training session conducted by American and Mexican prosecutors as this country revamps its justice system. Read more.
Aug 13, 2012
Drug Suspect Extradited to U.S.
Jun 27, 2012
Mexico laments US Supreme Court ruling upholding part of Arizona immigration law
AP: MEXICO CITY — The Mexican government says it’s disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld part of an Arizona law requiring police check the immigration status of anyone they stop.
Mexico’s Foreign Relations Secretary notes that Monday’s ruling set aside as unconstitutional three parts of the controversial law, including the ability to arrest suspected illegal immigrants without warrants.
The Mexican government has openly opposed Arizona’s immigration law since it was passed in 2010. The statement said enforcing parts of the law that were upheld by the Supreme Court would lead to violations of the civil rights of Mexicans living in or visiting Arizona. It says the law doesn’t recognize the many contributions immigrants make to their communities. Read more.
Mexico’s Foreign Relations Secretary notes that Monday’s ruling set aside as unconstitutional three parts of the controversial law, including the ability to arrest suspected illegal immigrants without warrants.
The Mexican government has openly opposed Arizona’s immigration law since it was passed in 2010. The statement said enforcing parts of the law that were upheld by the Supreme Court would lead to violations of the civil rights of Mexicans living in or visiting Arizona. It says the law doesn’t recognize the many contributions immigrants make to their communities. Read more.
Jun 25, 2012
Supreme Court Allows Immigration Checks
WSJ: WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court struck down much of Arizona's effort to crack down on illegal immigrants but left one key part intact in a ruling that gave both sides of the debate something to cheer.
In a 5-3 ruling, the court said Arizona in effect had tried to set up a parallel enforcement system that punished illegal immigrants more harshly and interfered with congressional authority over the nation's borders. The court rejected parts of the state law known as SB1070 that made it a crime for illegal immigrants to seek work and that authorized warrantless arrests of people suspected by state and local police of committing deportable offenses.
But the court upheld for now the law's directive that state and local police check the immigration status of people they stop when they suspect them of lacking authorization to be in the U.S. The justices observed that federal law already requires immigration officials to respond to status checks from local authorities. Read more.
In a 5-3 ruling, the court said Arizona in effect had tried to set up a parallel enforcement system that punished illegal immigrants more harshly and interfered with congressional authority over the nation's borders. The court rejected parts of the state law known as SB1070 that made it a crime for illegal immigrants to seek work and that authorized warrantless arrests of people suspected by state and local police of committing deportable offenses.
But the court upheld for now the law's directive that state and local police check the immigration status of people they stop when they suspect them of lacking authorization to be in the U.S. The justices observed that federal law already requires immigration officials to respond to status checks from local authorities. Read more.
May 9, 2012
Sons Of Sinaloa Cartel Leader 'El Chapo' Guzman Targeted
Huffington Post The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions Tuesday against two sons of Sinaloa cartel drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico said the Treasury Department designated Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Ovidio Guzman Lopez under Kingpin Act, which prohibits people in the U.S. from conducting businesses with them and freezes their U.S. assets. El Chapo Guzman was put on the list in 2001.
The department said Ovidio Guzman Lopez plays a significant role in his father's drug trafficking activities, and that Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar was detained on money laundering charges in Mexico in 2005, but was later released. read more
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico said the Treasury Department designated Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Ovidio Guzman Lopez under Kingpin Act, which prohibits people in the U.S. from conducting businesses with them and freezes their U.S. assets. El Chapo Guzman was put on the list in 2001.
The department said Ovidio Guzman Lopez plays a significant role in his father's drug trafficking activities, and that Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar was detained on money laundering charges in Mexico in 2005, but was later released. read more
Apr 25, 2012
Did Mexico's most wanted man order a Texan kidnapped?
Houston Chronicle: "Federal prosecutors in El Paso have indicted Mexico's most wanted man, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, accusing him of controlling an organization that, along with drug trafficking and violence in that country, killed two U.S. citizens, including one kidnapped in Texas and taken across the border.
The 14-count indictment levels racketeering charges against Guzmán, 57, head of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, his top capo and 22 others, including lieutenants. They are all Guzmán fugitives. It accuses him of running a drug-smuggling enterprise since 2000, shortly before he escaped from a Mexican prison. The indictment focuses on the period since 2008 when the Sinaloa Cartel launched an assault on turf controlled by the Juárez Cartel, killing thousands. read more
The 14-count indictment levels racketeering charges against Guzmán, 57, head of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, his top capo and 22 others, including lieutenants. They are all Guzmán fugitives. It accuses him of running a drug-smuggling enterprise since 2000, shortly before he escaped from a Mexican prison. The indictment focuses on the period since 2008 when the Sinaloa Cartel launched an assault on turf controlled by the Juárez Cartel, killing thousands. read more
Mexican drug boss 'El Chapo' Guzman, 23 members of Sinaloa Cartel indicted in Texas
The Greenfield Daily Reporter: "Federal officials unsealed a new federal indictment Tuesday against Mexico's most-wanted drug boss Joaquin Guzman Loera, known as "El Chapo," leader of the Sinaloa cartel and one of the world's richest men.
The 14-count indictment was returned April 11, but federal officials announced it Tuesday in El Paso. The 28-page indictment names Guzman and "co-leader of the cartel" Ismael Zambada Garcia, along with 22 other men. It alleges they were involved in the operations and management of the cartel, which they say has moved thousands of kilograms of cocaine and marijuana into the U.S. and used the profits to wage war against their rivals and the Mexican government." read more
The 14-count indictment was returned April 11, but federal officials announced it Tuesday in El Paso. The 28-page indictment names Guzman and "co-leader of the cartel" Ismael Zambada Garcia, along with 22 other men. It alleges they were involved in the operations and management of the cartel, which they say has moved thousands of kilograms of cocaine and marijuana into the U.S. and used the profits to wage war against their rivals and the Mexican government." read more
Apr 6, 2012
Mexican gang member sentenced to life in U.S. prison for murders
Reuters: " A senior member of a Mexican drug cartel was sentenced to life in prison in a U.S. court on Thursday after authorities implicated him in more than 1,500 murders, including the 2010 execution of a U.S. consulate employee in northern Mexico.
Jose Antonio Acosta Hernandez, 34, pleaded guilty to 11 counts that included murder, conspiracy to kill people in a foreign country and various racketeering, money laundering and drug charges.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone in El Paso, Texas, sentenced Hernandez to seven concurrent life terms and three additional consecutive life terms." read more
Jose Antonio Acosta Hernandez, 34, pleaded guilty to 11 counts that included murder, conspiracy to kill people in a foreign country and various racketeering, money laundering and drug charges.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone in El Paso, Texas, sentenced Hernandez to seven concurrent life terms and three additional consecutive life terms." read more
Man Pleads Guilty To Gun Charges In Botched Probe
Fox News: "A man who bought two rifles found at the scene of the fatal shooting of a federal agent near the Arizona-Mexico border pleaded guilty Thursday to two felony charges in the federal government's botched gun smuggling investigation known as Operation Fast and Furious.
Authorities say Jaime Avila Jr. was a member of a 20-person ring accused of buying guns and smuggling them into Mexico for use by the Sinaloa drug cartel. Two AK-47 variants bought by Avila from a suburban Phoenix gun store were found in the aftermath of a December 2010 shootout that mortally wounded Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry near Nogales, Arizona." read more
Authorities say Jaime Avila Jr. was a member of a 20-person ring accused of buying guns and smuggling them into Mexico for use by the Sinaloa drug cartel. Two AK-47 variants bought by Avila from a suburban Phoenix gun store were found in the aftermath of a December 2010 shootout that mortally wounded Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry near Nogales, Arizona." read more
US judge denies immunity claim for top lieutenant in Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel
The Washington Post: "A Chicago federal judge issued a ruling Thursday denying a sensational claim by an admitted Mexican cartel lieutenant imprisoned in Michigan that the U.S. government granted him blanket immunity that gave him carte blanche to smuggle cocaine over the border.
Lawyers for Vicente Zambada claimed U.S. agents granted him and other cartel leaders the immunity in exchange for intelligence about rival cartels engaged in bloody turf wars in Mexico." read more
Lawyers for Vicente Zambada claimed U.S. agents granted him and other cartel leaders the immunity in exchange for intelligence about rival cartels engaged in bloody turf wars in Mexico." read more
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