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Texas Turns Aside Pressure on Execution of 5 Mexicans
New York Times ^ | July 18, 2008 | James C, McKinley, Jr.

Posted on 07/18/2008 6:08:12 AM PDT by Zakeet

Despite pleas from the White House and the State Department, as well as an international court order to review their cases, Texas will execute five Mexicans on death row, a spokeswoman for the governor said Thursday. The first of the executions — that of José Ernesto Medellín, 33, convicted in the 1993 rape and murder of two teenage girls here — is scheduled for Aug. 5.

The decision by Gov. Rick Perry to allow the executions is the latest twist in a long-running battle between Mexico, which has no death penalty, and the United States over the fate of 51 Mexicans facing capital punishment in several states, including 14 in Texas. On Wednesday, the International Court of Justice at The Hague ordered a review of five of the Texas cases after Mexico complained that the convicts, all men, had not been allowed a chance to talk to a Mexican consul after their arrests, as required under the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

But that argument holds little sway in Texas, a place with a long history of upholding the death penalty and of telling other governments to mind their own business.

[Snip]

Mr. Medellín [was] one of six young men that a jury found had raped and strangled Elizabeth Peña, 16, and Jennifer Ertman, 15, in a park one night.

Mr. Medellín was 18 at the time and had lived most of his life in Texas; he signed a confession in English.

[Snip]

For relatives of the murdered girls, questions about international relations seem irrelevant.

“This has nothing to do with the World Court; it has nothing to do with the U.N.,” said Jennifer’s father, Randy Ertman. “This has everything to do with what Mexico wants, not what Texas wants. The people of Texas want the death penalty.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: aliens; capitalpunishment; crime; deathrow; illegalaliens; immigrantlist; immigration; sovereignty; texas; worldcourt
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To: Zakeet

Hey Bush, why don’t you fight this fight on our side for once and pardon the two border agents that were doing their job?


81 posted on 07/18/2008 9:13:27 AM PDT by stevio (Crunchy Con - God, guns, guts, and organically grown crunchy nuts.)
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To: Zakeet

What of the “irreparable breach of international obligation” by sending murderers to Texas?

Too, the article writer seems a bit too aghast that Texas would defy “an international court order”.


82 posted on 07/18/2008 9:14:31 AM PDT by kenth (Just think, .000001783% of the population is screwing it all up for the rest of us.)
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To: Zakeet

Go, Texas! Put the animals down!


83 posted on 07/18/2008 9:16:48 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: whatisthetruth
I am so glad Bush is not the governor of Texas right now, what a disappointing wuss he’s turned out to be.

Agreed, at least on this issue.

84 posted on 07/18/2008 9:18:38 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Zakeet
But that argument holds little sway in Texas, a place with a long history of upholding the death penalty and of telling other governments to mind their own business.

Works for me! God Bless Texas!

85 posted on 07/18/2008 9:34:18 AM PDT by Jaded ("I have a mustard- seed; and I am not afraid to use it."- Joseph Ratzinger)
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To: Zakeet

Some people need killin’


86 posted on 07/18/2008 10:10:21 AM PDT by TexasRepublic (When hopelessness replaces hope, it opens the door to evil.)
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To: B4Ranch

I believe that most of those Hispanics are loyal to Texas and the US. It is my opinion that MOST Mexican immigrants assimilate into the “American” culture within 2 generations. I grew up with Hispanics and you have to remember that many of them had families that had been in America for 100 years.


87 posted on 07/18/2008 10:14:18 AM PDT by Arkansas Toothpick
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To: Arkansas Toothpick

Just so long as you know that you’re being outnumbered and are happy with that. Remember that come voting time.


88 posted on 07/18/2008 10:18:53 AM PDT by B4Ranch (Having custody of a loaded weapon does not arm you. The skill to use the weapon is what arms a man.)
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To: rep-always

While Governor Perry would probably be happy to take full credit for the firm stand, unless the Texas Constitution has been changed recently, his only independent power related to executions is to grant one (1) 30 day stay of execution.

Except for that one time action, the governor is powerless to do anything on his own. A state Pardons and Paroles Board, appointed by the governor, must recommend any action for the governor to take. The governor does not have to follow the recommendation but he can’t act without it. We often have some very independent minded people on these type boards.


89 posted on 07/18/2008 11:17:19 AM PDT by etcb
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To: buffyt

We love Texans here, please feel free visit anytime, stay all summer, cause I know it’t damn Hot in texas. But everyone from the land of friuts and nuts, don’t visit,or stay or move here we have an over abundance of socialists.


90 posted on 07/18/2008 11:51:52 AM PDT by Colorado Cowgirl (God bless America!)
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To: 14erClimb; buffyt; All

That’s alright, Brody. Due to the high price of gas, we’re only gonna get as far as northern New Mexico this year.

Thanks for the praise.


91 posted on 07/18/2008 12:10:46 PM PDT by wolfcreek (I see miles and miles of Texas....let's keep it that way.)
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To: Arkansas Toothpick

That kind of comment makes me proud to be able to say that I am a Texan by birth.


92 posted on 07/19/2008 5:30:39 AM PDT by Tennessee_Bob ("Those who "abjure" violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf.")
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To: etcb

Thanks for the clarification. I did not know that. Than whoever is standing up against the liberal, anti-death penalty forces, Kudos.


93 posted on 07/19/2008 9:25:36 AM PDT by rep-always
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To: Zakeet

Maybe if Mexico kept their citizens IN MEXICO crap like this wouldn’t happen. By crap I mean the crimes. The executions should all be done consecutively in the same night.

Remember the Alamo!!!
Remember Goliad!!!


94 posted on 07/20/2008 4:18:38 AM PDT by rfreedom4u (My Freedom of speech trumps your feelings!)
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To: Zakeet

Texas: getting rid of illegal immigrants one at a time...


95 posted on 07/20/2008 11:36:29 AM PDT by Redbob ("WWJBD" ="What Would Jack Bauer Do?")
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To: Zakeet; All
The Murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena
(Warning: Brutal Descriptions)

96 posted on 07/20/2008 11:34:24 PM PDT by beaversmom
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To: muawiyah
Best Mexico’s embassy spokesman puts out the word IN MEXICO that it can be dangerous to cross that border.

Best to have the word on both sides...

...you just know, the first time an American is executed or tortured without the chance to contact the American consulate, we'll likely see FReepers falling all over themselves to protest it as unfair.

97 posted on 07/28/2008 7:55:36 PM PDT by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
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To: Zakeet
As Judge Roy Bean said west of the Pecons...some folks just need killin'

Medellin and his cohorts and accomplices fit that bill to the tee for what he did to those young girls. It was a horrid tale and it deserves a horrid end...Mexican grnandmother, world court, foolish US State Department and US Attorney General requests notwithstanding.

Way to go Texas...way to go Gov. Perry. You've got this one right...now stick to you guns.

98 posted on 07/28/2008 8:13:17 PM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: Zakeet

I love that saying, “Don’t mess with Texas”!


99 posted on 07/28/2008 8:21:08 PM PDT by hunter112 (The 'straight talk express' gets the straight finger express from me.)
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To: stevio
Hey Bush, why don’t you fight this fight on our side for once and pardon the two border agents that were doing their job?

and ...

Hey GOP, why don't you give us a conservative candidate?

100 posted on 07/28/2008 8:34:30 PM PDT by ladyjane
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