| Mexico is a country decorated with sandy | | | | a perpetrator of a crime, Mexican authorities |
| beaches, beautiful bronze-colored bikini clad | | | | are reluctant to extradite a suspect. |
| women, and Tequilas under the sun. It is also | | | | |
| a country known as a safe haven for | | | | 2. Mexico is a country whose authorities are |
| individuals accused of very serious crimes. | | | | perceived to be anarchistic. Political and |
| The resort towns of Cancun and Puerto | | | | police corruption are widespread such that a |
| Vallarta are two points of preferred interest | | | | fugitive with deep pockets can pass a few |
| for all criminals alike. | | | | dollars to an underpaid Mexican police |
| | | | officer to buy his way out of an arrest. |
| History has shown that many criminals choose | | | | |
| Mexico as a country where they feel they can | | | | Mexico has a poor track record of sending |
| avoid the long arm of American law. Max | | | | fugitives back north of the Rio Grande river. |
| Factor heir, Andrew Luster, was living in | | | | For Americans who make a "run for the Bell," |
| Puerto Vallarta at the time of his arrest by | | | | it could be years for U.S. authorities to get |
| reality TV host and bounty hunter, Duane "The | | | | them back if they have a good lawyer in |
| Dog" Chapman. | | | | Mexico unless Mexico sees no reason to keep a |
| | | | fugitive. |
| After murdering his wife and three children | | | | |
| in 2001, Christian Longo sought out Cancun as | | | | For Mexican citizens who flee to their own |
| his private place to vacate. At the time of | | | | country, it is even harder for U.S. officials |
| his arrest, Longo was living in a grass shack | | | | to bring them in to face justice. The reason |
| and dating a new woman when FBI agents with | | | | for this trend is that many Mexican nationals |
| the help of the Mexican federales came | | | | have families to whom they can turn when |
| knocking on his door to apprehend him. | | | | seeking asylum from the American legal |
| | | | system. Americans on the other hand are |
| More recently in the news, Byron Keith | | | | considered outsiders with no roots in Mexico. |
| Perkins, a federal prisoner serving time for | | | | Unless the American is rich and can support |
| drug distribution and firearms charges, was | | | | himself in this developing country that |
| re-arrested in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico after | | | | provides very few jobs, he has a greater |
| being released from federal prison back in | | | | chance of being caught by Mexican law |
| January 2006 so that he could donate a kidney | | | | enforcement to face extradition to the U.S. |
| to his son. Sadly, he never showed up for the | | | | |
| compatibility tests needed prior to a kidney | | | | If the U.S. wants really bad a fugitive |
| donation but instead fled the country leaving | | | | living in Mexico, American authorities will |
| his son to find another donor. | | | | just travel there and arrest him themselves. |
| | | | In 1990, this is what happened when the U.S. |
| Since the early days of the United States, | | | | paid Mexican nationals to kidnap Humberto |
| countless murderers, drug dealers, horse | | | | Alvarez-Machain, a physician from |
| thieves, rapists, and tax evaders have looked | | | | Guadalajara, who was charged by the U.S. of |
| to Mexico as their place of preference. | | | | being present when DEA agent Enrique Camarena |
| | | | was handcuffed, tortured, and murdered in |
| So what is it about Mexico? There are so many | | | | 1985 while he was investigating ties between |
| places in the U.S. for culprits to hide, why | | | | large drug cartels and Mexican officials. |
| do they choose to make their run south of the | | | | Mexican mercenaries flew Alvarez-Machain to |
| border? Is it for lunch at Taco Bell? | | | | the U.S. to face trial in the federal agent's |
| | | | death. |
| There are several reasons why criminals opt | | | | |
| to make this country their safety nest. | | | | For the American citizen, Mexico is more than |
| | | | just a place for suntans and Tequilas. It is |
| 1. For one, Mexico has a long history of | | | | a place of refuge for criminals who refuse to |
| refusing to extradite suspects who face life | | | | be prosecuted. |
| in prison or the death penalty. Their court | | | | |
| system sees capital punishment and life | | | | Fabiola Castillo is an online marketer for |
| without the possibility of parole as forms of | | | | the website This virtual store specializes |
| cruel and unusual punishment. They do, | | | | in selling telescopic batons, kubatons, |
| however, favor rehabilitation for the | | | | pepper spray, nunchaku, stun guns, Air |
| criminal. Unless American authorities are | | | | Tasers, home security equipment, and many |
| willing to reduce the potential sentence for | | | | other self defense products. |