U.S.-Mexico Conflict Over Extraditions

Bob Baker’s complaint that Mexico’s refusal to extradite suspects who face the death penalty is an “infringement on U.S. sovereignty” is just patent nonsense (“Mexico Butts Into U.S. Justice,” Commentary, Feb. 11). It may be a violation of treaties between our nations, but it has nothing to do with sovereignty. I would ask Baker to imagine the American response if Nigeria asked us to extradite a Nigerian woman who faced death by stoning for adultery, or if China wanted the return of a dissident who would be tortured and killed.

Perhaps if the United States were in step with the rest of the world, which has all but abandoned execution, this problem could be solved.

Dan Brezenoff

Long Beach

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Baker points out ever so clearly where we seem to be headed. It is an honest and accurate assessment of how criminals can, and do, seek refuge in Mexico. What is not mentioned here is that there is a larger trend where Mexico is intruding into our country. On Jan. 30 you printed an account of how Mexican-issued identification cards could be used by Mexican people to circumvent our laws in several ways, and on Jan. 25 you published “U.S., Mexican Bishops Urge Bush to Resume Migration Negotiations.”

Now, what this really is all about is that Mexico would wish a wide-open border to allow unrestricted immigration. What is not mentioned is just how this could be limited to Mexico. Effectively, we would be open to the whole of the world’s populations to come and enjoy our already-bankrupt state. Isn’t it time that we should rethink our positions on these issues?

Richard B. Pridham

Downey

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Baker’s logic, used to argue that Mexico unfairly violates U.S. sovereignty by not allowing extradition of criminals to face the death penalty in the U.S., was the same heard by countries and states in the 1800s when they refused to send slaves back to slaveholding states. What about Mexico’s sovereignty to protect the people within its borders from barbaric laws of other nations?

Doug Kieso

Los Angeles