Perps Go South of the Border

Mexico is a country decorated with sandyof a crime, Mexican authorities are reluctant to
beaches, beautiful bronze-colored bikini cladextradite a suspect.
women, and Tequilas under the sun. It is also a2. Mexico is a country whose authorities are
country known as a safe haven for individualsperceived to be anarchistic. Political and police
accused of very serious crimes. The resort townscorruption are widespread such that a fugitive
of Cancun and Puerto Vallarta are two points ofwith deep pockets can pass a few dollars to an
preferred interest for all criminals alike.underpaid Mexican police officer to buy his way
History has shown that many criminals chooseout of an arrest.
Mexico as a country where they feel they canMexico has a poor track record of sending
avoid the long arm of American law. Max Factorfugitives back north of the Rio Grande river. For
heir, Andrew Luster, was living in Puerto VallartaAmericans who make a "run for the Bell," it could
at the time of his arrest by reality TV host andbe years for U.S. authorities to get them back if
bounty hunter, Duane "The Dog" Chapman.they have a good lawyer in Mexico unless Mexico
After murdering his wife and three children insees no reason to keep a fugitive.
2001, Christian Longo sought out Cancun as hisFor Mexican citizens who flee to their own
private place to vacate. At the time of his arrest,country, it is even harder for U.S. officials to bring
Longo was living in a grass shack and dating athem in to face justice. The reason for this trend
new woman when FBI agents with the help ofis that many Mexican nationals have families to
the Mexican federales came knocking on his doorwhom they can turn when seeking asylum from
to apprehend him.the American legal system. Americans on the
More recently in the news, Byron Keith Perkins, aother hand are considered outsiders with no roots
federal prisoner serving time for drug distributionin Mexico. Unless the American is rich and can
and firearms charges, was re-arrested in Puertosupport himself in this developing country that
Vallarta, Mexico after being released from federalprovides very few jobs, he has a greater chance
prison back in January 2006 so that he couldof being caught by Mexican law enforcement to
donate a kidney to his son. Sadly, he neverface extradition to the U.S.
showed up for the compatibility tests neededIf the U.S. wants really bad a fugitive living in
prior to a kidney donation but instead fled theMexico, American authorities will just travel there
country leaving his son to find another donor.and arrest him themselves. In 1990, this is what
Since the early days of the United States,happened when the U.S. paid Mexican nationals to
countless murderers, drug dealers, horse thieves,kidnap Humberto Alvarez-Machain, a physician
rapists, and tax evaders have looked to Mexicofrom Guadalajara, who was charged by the U.S.
as their place of preference.of being present when DEA agent Enrique
So what is it about Mexico? There are so manyCamarena was handcuffed, tortured, and
places in the U.S. for culprits to hide, why do theymurdered in 1985 while he was investigating ties
choose to make their run south of the border? Isbetween large drug cartels and Mexican officials.
it for lunch at Taco Bell?Mexican mercenaries flew Alvarez-Machain to the
There are several reasons why criminals opt toU.S. to face trial in the federal agent's death.
make this country their safety nest.For the American citizen, Mexico is more than just
1. For one, Mexico has a long history of refusinga place for suntans and Tequilas. It is a place of
to extradite suspects who face life in prison orrefuge for criminals who refuse to be prosecuted.
the death penalty. Their court system sees capitalFabiola Castillo is an online marketer for the
punishment and life without the possibility ofwebsite This virtual store specializes in selling
parole as forms of cruel and unusual punishment.telescopic batons, kubatons, pepper spray,
They do, however, favor rehabilitation for thenunchaku, stun guns, Air Tasers, home security
criminal. Unless American authorities are willing toequipment, and many other self defense products.
reduce the potential sentence for a perpetrator