Obama tries to stop execution in Texas of Mexican killer

Guardian ^ | July 5, 2011 | Chris McGreal

[cowtowney]

Obama tries to stop execution in Texas of Mexican killer

US president warns Texan authorities that execution would put America in breach of international legal obligations

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Chris McGreal in Washington guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 5 July 2011 16.39 BST Article history

COP15 U.S. President Obama President Barack Obama has asked the Texan authorities not to execute the convicted rapist and murderer Humberto Leal Garcia. Photograph: Bob Strong/Reuters

President Barack Obama is attempting to block the execution in Texas on Thursday of a Mexican man because it would breach an international convention and do "irreparable harm" to US interests.

The White House has asked the US supreme court to put the execution of Humberto Leal Garcia on hold while Congress passes a law that would prevent the convicted rapist and murderer from being put to death along with dozens of other foreign nationals who were denied proper access to diplomatic representation before trials for capital crimes.

[RonF]

If he came over when he was two he may not have known what his immigration status was. Lots of such people only find out when they try to go to college.

And if he did know, did he lie to law enforcement about it? In all the stories on this I’ve never heard the answer to this. If he lied and was questioned on that basis I figure he relinquished his right to be informed.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Hurry up and execute.

[EQAndyBuzz]

First question, don’t care how old he was when he came into the country. Was he legal?

Second question, is Obama requesting that we do not execute illegal immigrants who come to this country and murder citizens?

Final question. This seems to be a growing problem, illegals murdering America citizens” why isn’t there a wall u to protect America?

[broken_arrow1]

Obama tries to stop execution in Texas of Mexican killer

Obama has an opening for an illegal immigrant "rape" czar post he is trying to fill.

[Carlucci]

Juxtapose this with the Arizona 1070 law, where the libs cry out that law enforcement has no right to ascertain the immigration status of legally detained individuals.

Now they are crying that ascertaining the immigration status is the first thing law enforcement should have done?

[Conscience of a Conservative]

All this poser asshole has to do is issue a Presidential Pardon. But, mister loser-I-can’t-be-blamed-anybody-but-me, can’t have a diddy like this on his record - it might be used against him in his next perfunctory (in his mind) election.

The President has no power to issue pardons for state crimes.

[Talisker]

What happens if Congress passes a law that says States have to abide by the treaty??? Is that unconstitutional?

Technically yes, but the Feds force this all the time on the States though administrative application of the Commerce Clause. That's why a recent, clear and specific ruling on the issue from SCOTUS would be so valuable - it would establish the starting point for arguments to limit Fed abuse.

[olezip]

Obama tries to stop execution in Texas of Mexican killer

President Obama wants Texas to fall in line with One-World government by yielding the sovereignty of the USA to the UN dominated by communist and socialist nations. Obama knows that the laws of our nation supersede treaties and the laws of other nations.

[piytar]

Nope, we don’t. Hey obastard, you might think you are a king or dictator or whatever, but you got no power over internal Texas matters.

FUBO.

[apillar]

What happens if Congress passes a law that says States have to abide by the treaty??? Is that unconstitutional? I honestly have no idea, but I figure if they couldn't pass it with the huge democrat majorities they had in the previous congress, it stands no chance of getting through the current one.

[alexander_busek]

poorly written headline - - is he killing Mexicans or a Mexican killing others?

No, Loud Mime, the headline is grammatically and orthographically correct, and unambiguous in meaning.

Had the killer been killing Mexicans, then he would have been a Mexican-killer (note the hyphen).

Regards,

[RummyChick]

I just read an article that talked about illegal immigrants have more rights than legal immigrants when it comes to brutal crimes.

Mexico intervenes on behalf of their citizens.

I have to say that if Perry holds the line and executes this guy in face of all the opposition..perhaps he should run for President.

[RummyChick]

“Juxtapose this with the Arizona 1070 law, where the libs cry out that law enforcement has no right to ascertain the immigration status of legally detained individuals.

Now they are crying that ascertaining the immigration status is the first thing law enforcement should have done?”

Excellent synopsis of the hypocrisy and one that should be shouted over and over again.

[GlockThe Vote]

Obama = communist traitor.

[Retired COB]

Leal’s lawyers argue that the lack of consular access played a role in the death penalty being applied because the Mexican national incriminated himself in statements made during “non-custodial interviews” with the police on the day of the murder. Had Leal had access to the Mexican consulate it would have been likely to have arranged a lawyer who would have advised the accused man to limit his statements to the police. As it was, the Mexican authorities were never informed of his arrest.

Obama is pretending that the Mexican government had any desire to repatriate this illegal alien or any other Mexican who has fled their cesspool. They would, however, like to repatriate a good portion of the money that their illegals earn here back to their country.

[RummyChick]

On the flip side...imagine being arrested in a foreign country like Turkey and not being given the rights to call the consulate.

Here is the letter from the Midnight Express guy.

http://www.humbertoleal.org/docs/Hayes-clemency-letter-signed.pdf

[The Great RJ]

Gee do US nationals get access to diplomatic authorities if they are arrested for capital crimes in other countries? I would bet there are plenty of armpit nations that wouldn’t extend this courtesy to US citizens... treaty or no treaty. Besides this is solely a state matter. The guy committed murder in Texas and was given a presumably fair trial in state courts and likely spent years in appeals before they finally are getting around to executing him. Obama should butt out.

[Froggie]

Governor Rick will chew him up over this !!!
Don’t mess with Texas

[Centurion2000]

US president warns Texan authorities that execution would put America in breach of international legal obligations

Wow, that's too bad. /sarc

[MCCC]

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.