THREE INS AGENTS CONVICTED OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

In a verdict characterized as "historic" by activists and
authorities, three agents of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service (INS) were found guilty of
violating the human rights of an undocumented Mexican who
died from a beating he received during his arrest.
Serafin Olivera Carrera, a 48-year-old migrant worker
from San Luis Potosi, died on September 22, 2002, nearly
a year after INS agents broke his neck during an arrest,
then refused medical attention for five hours. Olivera
was paralyzed from the time of his arrest until his death.
All three agents were found guilty of denying medical
attention and one agent was found guilty of excessive use
of force. The agents arrested Olivera during a raid south
of Houston, and put handcuffs on Olivera while placing a
knee in the back of his neck. Despite screams from
Olivera, the agents demanded that he get up and move to a
waiting paddy wagon. When Olivera couldn't move, the
agents picked him up, sprayed him with pepper spray and
threw him in the back of the wagon. The agents, Louis Rey
Gomez, Richard Henry Gonzalez and Carlos Reyna, will be
sentenced on September 17 and could receive up to 10 years
in prison and fines of up to $250,000.

+++++++++++++++
* EL PASO PROTEST AGAINST IMMIGRANT'S MURDER

About 250 people gathered on June 13 to honor the memory
of Juan Patricio Peraza, who was gunned down by Border
Patrol Agent Vernon Billings on Feb. 22, 2003. An El Paso
grand jury ruled last week that Billings acted within
protocol when he shot the unarmed Peraza in the arm and
stomach. The ruling signaled that no further charges will
be pursued in the case. An appeal is expected to be filed
by immigrant rights activists, who intend to push the
case into Federal courts.

Protesters` signs declared, "Soy inmigrante, Soy digno,
Exigo respeto" (I am an immigrant. I have dignity. I
demand respect.) and "Los derechos de los inmigrantes son
derechos humanos" (Immigrant rights are human rights) The
march began at the sight of the shooting, proceeded to the
courthouse and ended up in El Paso´s downtown square,
where protesters joined hands and almost surrounded the
entire square. A large contingent of youth led the
march. The Border Network for Human Rights, Sin Fronteras,
Centro de Trabajadores Agricolas and Annunciation House
organized the event.

Mexico Solidarity Network http://www.mexicosolidarity.org