| Mexico is a country decorated with sandy | | | | of a crime, Mexican authorities are reluctant to |
| beaches, beautiful bronze-colored bikini clad | | | | extradite a suspect. |
| women, and Tequilas under the sun. It is also a | | | | 2. Mexico is a country whose authorities are |
| country known as a safe haven for individuals | | | | perceived to be anarchistic. Political and police |
| accused of very serious crimes. The resort towns | | | | corruption are widespread such that a fugitive |
| of Cancun and Puerto Vallarta are two points of | | | | with 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 choose | | | | out of an arrest. |
| 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 Factor | | | | fugitives back north of the Rio Grande river. For |
| heir, Andrew Luster, was living in Puerto Vallarta | | | | Americans who make a "run for the Bell," it could |
| at the time of his arrest by reality TV host and | | | | be 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 in | | | | sees no reason to keep a fugitive. |
| 2001, Christian Longo sought out Cancun as his | | | | For 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 a | | | | them in to face justice. The reason for this trend |
| new woman when FBI agents with the help of | | | | is that many Mexican nationals have families to |
| the Mexican federales came knocking on his door | | | | whom 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, a | | | | other hand are considered outsiders with no roots |
| federal prisoner serving time for drug distribution | | | | in Mexico. Unless the American is rich and can |
| and firearms charges, was re-arrested in Puerto | | | | support himself in this developing country that |
| Vallarta, Mexico after being released from federal | | | | provides very few jobs, he has a greater chance |
| prison back in January 2006 so that he could | | | | of being caught by Mexican law enforcement to |
| donate a kidney to his son. Sadly, he never | | | | face extradition to the U.S. |
| showed up for the compatibility tests needed | | | | If the U.S. wants really bad a fugitive living in |
| prior to a kidney donation but instead fled the | | | | Mexico, 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 Mexico | | | | from 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 many | | | | Camarena was handcuffed, tortured, and |
| places in the U.S. for culprits to hide, why do they | | | | murdered in 1985 while he was investigating ties |
| choose to make their run south of the border? Is | | | | between 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 to | | | | U.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 refusing | | | | a place for suntans and Tequilas. It is a place of |
| to extradite suspects who face life in prison or | | | | refuge for criminals who refuse to be prosecuted. |
| the death penalty. Their court system sees capital | | | | Fabiola Castillo is an online marketer for the |
| punishment and life without the possibility of | | | | website 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 the | | | | nunchaku, stun guns, Air Tasers, home security |
| criminal. Unless American authorities are willing to | | | | equipment, and many other self defense products. |
| reduce the potential sentence for a perpetrator | | | | |