Thread: U.S. citizens abused while in Mexican custody

State Department report: U.S. citizens abused while in Mexican custody

By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Timeselpasotimes.com
Posted: 06/06/2012 07:19:15 PM MDT
Reporter: Diana Washington Valdez

Several U.S. citizens are among those who reported being beaten, suffocated, and received electrical shocks while in the custody of Mexican authorities, according to the recently released U.S. State Department report on human rights around the world.

The most serious human rights issues appear to be linked to Mexico's fight against the drug cartels, according to the State Department's "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices."

"Transnational criminal organizations remained the most significant perpetrator of violent crimes in the country, showing disregard for civilian casualties, engaging in human trafficking, and intimidating journalists and human rights defenders with violence and threats," the report said.

State Department report: U.S. citizens abused while in Mexican custody - El Paso Times

UTEP students claim they were beaten by Juárez police

By Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera \ EL PASO TIMES
06/07/2012 03:22:22 AM MDT

Two University of Texas at El Paso students are accusing Juárez municipal police of beating them and detaining them without cause on Tuesday evening.

Paloma Padilla and Jesús Enrique Hilario, both 20, were returning to El Paso after visiting family when their car ran out of gas near the intersection of Antonio J. Bermudez Boulevard and Faraday Street, said Padilla's father, Luis Alberto Padilla.

Hilario's father, who was driving the car, left the two while he went to find gas about 8 p.m.

Soon two police trucks arrived, and officers asked the two what they were doing. Officers said they looked suspicious, Luis Alberto Padilla said.
When Padilla and Hilario got out of the car, officers threw them against its hood, Luis Alberto Padilla said. When they tried to show their UTEP student identification cards, the officers rejected them.

"They told them that those IDs were worthless there and they were not in the U.S.," Luis Alberto Padilla said.

Paloma Padilla screamed for help when police handcuffed her, Luis Alberto Padilla said. Paloma injured her head, back and wrist when an officer threw her into the back of one of the police trucks. The same officer punched her in the stomach several times, he added.

Meanwhile, three police officers choked Hilario, held an assault rifle to his head and beat him, Luis Alberto Padilla said.

Hilario's father arrived at the scene shortly before two other police vehicles arrived and drove Hilario and Paloma Padilla away. Hilario's and Padilla's parents were told the students were being detained at the Universidad police station, near downtown Juárez. They were missing for about four hours. Hilario's and Padilla's parents contacted local media and activists and demanded to know where their children were. About midnight, the couple arrived at the Universidad station and were soon released. Luis Alberto Padilla said police officers didn't press charges.

A local TV station followed the families with cameras from the police station to the Paso del Norte Bridge, Luis Alberto Padilla said.

A police spokesman did not respond to calls seeking comments Wednesday.
Luis Alberto Padilla said they went to the U.S. Consulate in Juárez and filed a complaint. Hilario is a U.S. citizen, and Paloma Padilla lives in El Paso on a student visa. U.S. Consulate officials did not return calls seeking comment.
A UTEP spokesman confirmed that Hilario and Paloma Padilla are engineering students at the university.

Luis Alberto Padilla described them as good students. Hilario has played basketball in high school, and Paloma Padilla has participated in national chess competitions several times, he said.

Luis Alberto Padilla said he wasn't sure how the families would proceed after meeting with officials of the U.S. Consulate. He added they met with representatives of Mexico's National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday to file a complaint.

Luis Alberto Padilla said the experience left him feeling unsafe and uneasy.
"If these are the persons that take care of us, then we have no choice but to stay at home. In the end, you're in danger anywhere you turn," he said. "In theory, not all of them are bad, but how are you going to know who's good and who's bad if they're all wearing the same uniform and driving the same patrol cars?"

UTEP students claim they were beaten by Juárez police - El Paso Times