Mexico’s Refusal to Extradite Criminals

Re “Killers Slip Away to Mexico,” May 27: Mexico refuses to extradite wanted murderers, rapists and other criminals to the U.S., does nothing to stop the flow of drugs or people across our border and evicts American retirees from their beachfront properties, but at the same time wants us to open our border and legalize millions of its citizens who broke our immigration laws? Clearly, Mexican officials are exacting a methodical revenge for past historical events by slowly but surely eating away at the sovereignty of the United States.

The shocking thing is that the U.S. continues to appease a country that has complete contempt for us, that demands much and gives little in return. Our foreign policy with the rest of the world is generally quite reasonable, but Mexico always seems to make us look like a deer caught in the headlights.

Mark A. Mendlovitz

Los Angeles

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Mexico refuses to extradite people who might be sentenced to life in prison on the grounds that this is cruel and does not further the goal of rehabilitating the criminal.

Then again, those who have experienced firsthand the cruel and unusual conditions of a Mexican prison will tell you it is hardly a place conducive to rehabilitation.

Chris Norlin

Los Angeles

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Unbelievable that Mexicans can commit murder and flee back to their country with no fear of extradition. Shut the gate to this corrupt, backward country.

Adam Novicki

Los Angeles

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Your article touches on an issue that has concerned me since I crossed into Mexico a couple of months ago at Otay Mesa, an alternative to the incredibly busy Tijuana crossing a few miles to the west. I was dropped off by a friend on the U.S. side and walked (pulling my suitcase) through a deserted, open expanse of concrete with a high turnstile that afforded one-way access into Mexico. To my amazement, I encountered not a single Mexican or American until a group of taxi drivers appeared, one of whom drove me to the Tijuana airport.

Back in California, I phoned the Border Patrol to point out that I could have been a fugitive with a body in my suitcase--or worse. Their response was, “What goes into Mexico is their problem, not ours.” At a time when we are supposedly on national alert, this seems to me a hell of a way to run a railroad.

Carol Easton

Venice