International Human Rights Commission Hears Case on Anti-immigrant Border Vigilante Activities

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States (OAS) has announced that it will hear a human rights complaint brought by a Tucson immigrant rights organization. The Border Action Network has accused the United States of failing to provide protection and legal remedies for victims of violence and intimidation by anti-immigrant vigilante groups operating along the US-Mexico border in southern Arizona. The complaint, filed in 2005, alleges that the United States is in violation of the rights to life, liberty and personal security, the right to equality before the law and the right to judicial protection as recognized under the OAS’ principal human rights instrument, the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man. The Commission ruled the complaint to be admissible in August 2009 and published a report of its findings. The case is now at the merits stage of the proceedings which means the Commission will determine whether the United States has a duty to prevent, investigate and sanction these armed vigilante groups.

The case focuses on 21 incidents occurring in Cochise County, Arizona during the period of 1999-2005 in which private individuals or organized vigilante groups, such as the Minutemen, detained and assaulted people they suspected of being undocumented, some of whom were Mexican-American children.

Attorneys from the International Human Rights Advocacy Workshop at the University of Arizona College of Law are providing legal representation on this case. The Workshop provides law students the opportunity to get directly involved in high-profile human and civil rights cases.

The hearing is at the Commission’s headquarters in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, October 25, 2011, from 9-10 am. It is a public hearing. Media questions can be addressed to the Commission’s Press Director, Maria Isabel Rivero: (202) 458-3867 mrivero@oas.org

KJ