México | El programa de Asistencia Jurídica logró evitar 126 penas de muerte en contra de mexicanos en Estados Unidos

El programa de Asistencia Jurídica resultó producente para los connacionales en el país vecino

A través de un comunicado, la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) dio a conocer que, gracias al programa de “Asistencia Jurídica en Casos de Pena Capital en Estados Unidos”, se logró evitar o revertir la pena de muerte en 126 casos dentro del país vecino en lo que va del presente sexenio, destacando una de las mayores cifras desde su implementación.

Fue durante la reunión de Consulados de América del Norte, donde el jefe de la Unidad para América del Norte, Roberto Velasco Álvarez, así como el secretario de Relaciones Exteriores, Marcelo Ebrard, señalaron y enarbolaron el compromiso que ha habido en la presente administración para evitar que los mexicanos con problemas legales en Estados Unidos, sean condenados a la pena de muerte, una práctica que se da en diferentes estados del país de “arriba”.

Si bien, es un programa que se implementó desde el año 2000, Roberto Velasco recalcó la importancia y seguimiento que se le sigue dando a los connacionales que radican en Estados Unidos. “Ningún mexicano sentenciado fue ejecutado”. Hasta el 28 de abril del 2023, son 126 compatriotas los que pudieron ser salvados de la justicia local.

Dentro de sus declaraciones, el jefe de la unidad anunció que, a corto plaza también dará inicio el nuevo programa con el que se defenderá legalmente a paisanos presos en Estados Unidos y que ante los ojos de México, purgan penas excesivas. Dicha iniciativa fue denominada como la Defensoría a personas mexicanas en materia penal.

Es un programa institucional que brindará protección consular a personas que enfrentan procesos legales penales graves, dada la complejidad del sistema, la especialización que requiere esa representación y los costos de ese tipo de casos.

De igual manera, señaló las bases y fundamentos en los que se basarán para buscar defender a los connacionales. “El programa va a atender a personas mexicanas que enfrenten procesos penales por delitos graves en los que no han admitido su culpabilidad y que existan elementos legales suficientes para presumir su inocencia, que hayan recibido sentencias desproporcionados por injusticias del sistema y que pertenezcan a poblaciones vulnerables”.

Marcelo Ebrard sobre el apoyo a los mexicanos

Por su parte y retomando el tema del nuevo proyecto hacia los paisanos que afrontan problemas legales en el país de arriba, el canciller Marcelo Ebrard, arremetió en contra del trato que reciben los mexicanos por parte de las autoridades estadounidenses, resaltando que la justicia no es equitativa entre unos y otros.

Sabemos que en muchos de los casos en Estados Unidos hay un sesgo en contra de nuestros connacionales o desventaja porque no se maneja el idioma o porque no tienes acceso a los servicios legales a tiempo.

Por último, reconoció la iniciativa e interés por parte del presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador, quien a lo largo de su administración, le ha dado bastante seguimiento al tema de los mexicanos en el extranjero.

Ha sido una encomienda, una insistencia del presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador, que pongamos atención a eso, que mejoremos el respaldo, que tenga mayor cobertura, que tenga eficacia. Llegó a hablar de que fuéramos una procuraduría de defensa de nuestras y nuestros connacionales, es lo que queremos construir, es lo que va construyendo: defender a nuestros connacionales y proteger sus intereses en Estados Unidos.

Como ya se mencionó, el actual Programa de Asistencia Jurídica fue una iniciativa que comenzó en el 2000 con la firme intención de apoyar a las personas mexicanas que enfrentaban la pena capital en Estados Unidos, así como para mejorar la calidad de la defensa desde el momento de su detención hasta los procesos post-sentencia.

Source: infobae.com, Alex Domínguez, April 29, 2023

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