LOCAL : U.S. Appeals Camarena Ruling

U.S. prosecutors decided today to appeal a judge’s ruling ordering the release of a Mexican doctor abducted from his homeland after his indictment in the murder of Enrique Camarena, and the judge said the order was automatically stayed.

U.S. Atty. Lourdes Baird asked U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie to delay the implementation of his Aug. 10 decision ordering Dr. Humberto Alvarez Machain returned to Mexico.

Rafeedie agreed, ordering that the Guadalajara gynecologist remain held in custody and setting a bail hearing for Aug. 24.

The judge said the government’s appeal automatically superseded his earlier order that Machain be returned to Mexico on the grounds that his arrest violated an extradition treaty between the United States and Mexico.