Thread: Kidnapped: Immigrants returned after families paid ransom

Kidnapped

Immigrants returned after families paid ransom
By MIGUEL TIMOSHENKOV
LAREDO MORNING TIMES
Published: Thursday, March 12, 2009 3:20 AM CDT


NUEVO LAREDO - There were at least 15 "express kidnappings" of Central Americans in January and February in this border city, civil rights officials said Wednesday.

All were released after family members in the United States met ransom demands.

The figures were released at a news conference by José Luis Manso RamÃ*rez, coordinator of the Centro de Derechos Humanos del Migrante (center for immigrant human rights), and Father Francisco Pellizari, director of Nuevo Laredo's Casa del Migrante.

"I have documents with testimony from victims of express kidnappings in this city," Manso said.

"They were deprived of their freedom up to 48 hours while they contacted their family members in the United States and obtained what was demanded."

In some cases, the immigrants insisted they didn't have family members in the United States, Manso said.

"Some were punished; others weren't touched," he said.

Pellizari said the groups are seeking to reveal the truth, with no political or special interest motives.

"There is no intention to manipulate the statistics and events that are occurring on this border and in other parts of Mexico," he said.

The priest said the human rights activists are giving voice to the immigrants, so that the public will know where abuses are taking place.

"If someone feels offended, that is their problem," he said.

He said the groups will continue to release statistics about the crime wave that is afflicting immigrants.

From December 2008 to February 2009, Manso said, there were 214 cases where immigrants were victims of crimes, most of them men. Ages of the victims ranged from 18 to 35.

According to their report, the crime victims were 58 percent from Honduras, 17 percent from El Salvador, 13 percent from Guatemala, 10 percent from Mexico and 3 percent from Nicaragua.

Figures do not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.

The majority of complaints registered with the Human Rights Commission in Nuevo Laredo during this time period came from people deported from the United States.

Overall, the most complaints of immigrant abuse come from the state of Chiapas, followed by Tabasco, Veracruz, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas.

Manso said the largest percentage of complaints are lodged against criminals, second against Mexican law enforcement and third, U.S. authorities.

According to the statistics, the most allegations of abuse involving officials are against police in Nuevo Laredo, followed by police in Reynosa (across from McAllen). In third place is San Luis Potosi.

"Mexican authorities have a consistently elevated level of abuse (reported against them), primarily involving municipal police," Manso said.

"They are located in a range of 10 to 17 cities nationally."

Nuevo Laredo officials reject the claims that their city officers are to blame.

Alfonso Olvera Ledezma, director of public safety, said his agency doesn't tolerate abuse.

He believes the problem stems from misidentification because immigrants tend to see all uniformed officers as belonging to "the police."

"Here in Nuevo Laredo, there are many law enforcement officers," he said.

"The victims refer simply to 'police' but they don't know which agency the officer really belongs to."

Olvera Ledezma emphasized that his office does respond to complaints, and that officers who are found to be abusive are suspended or fired, depending on the severity of the case.

Legal action also can be taken, if the case warrants it.

He said no complaints have been received so far this year, but his agency is responding to recommendations made by human rights organizations to ensure immigrants' rights are protected.

(To reach Miguel Timoshenkov, call 728-2583 or e-mail timo1@lmtonline.com)


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The majority of complaints registered with the Human Rights Commission in Nuevo Laredo during this time period came from people deported from the United States.

Hmmm.