Bishop: US violating international law in its interdiction efforts

March 17, 2015

The bishop of El Paso has accused the United States of violating international law in its attempts to prevent unaccompanied Central American children from entering the nation.

The Obama administration’s “success in limiting the number of children coming has been based upon instructing the Central American governments and Mexico to stop them from coming,” wrote Bishop Mark Seitz. “It is called ‘interdiction,’ where governments from destination or transit countries intercept would-be refugees from approaching a destination country.”

He added:

To back up the message, the administration has helped Mexico build new checkpoints and road blocks along their southern border. Such a policy does not include, in this and many other cases, protocols for screening fleeing refugees for asylum claims. The children have been rounded up or taken off the train and sent back to their home countries, without any screening for risks to their lives if returned.

It is a practice called refoulement — the return of refugees to their persecutors without due process — a violation of international law … This policy has drastic consequences for the children returned, where gang members await them.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Bishop Mark Seitz: U.S.-led interdiction effort in Mexico breaks international law Bishop Mark Seitz: U.S.-led interdiction effort in Mexico breaks international law (El Paso Times)