Eugenio Vides Casanova can be deported

Contrpunto

On Saturday, Tim wrote about a recent decision by a Florida immigration judge ruling that the former Salvadoran defense minister General Eugenio Vides Casanova can be deported from the U.S. given his responsibility for human rights abuses that occurred under his watch during the 1980s. From the AP

In a groundbreaking decision, a federal immigration judge has ruled that the former defense minister of El Salvador can be deported from the U.S. for his role in killings and human rights abuses during the 1980s.

The ruling by the Orlando-based judge, James K. Grim, marks the first time a 2004 law aimed at stopping human rights abusers from taking refuge in the U.S. has been successfully used against a nation’s top military official, according to the San Francisco-based Center for Justice & Accountability.

It's not a given that he will be deported. (See also the New York Times) The judge only ruled that he can be. Unfortunately, there are no charges pending against him in El Salvador. Even though it doesn't look like he is interested, my hope remains that President Funes takes steps towards preparing the country for prosecutions of human rights violators. While the military might have threatened to carry out a coup had there not been an amnesty in 1993, I don't see that threat as credible today.

However, the FMLN is not pushing for a repeal of the Amnesty Law that would open the door to prosecutions. From what I understand, the only FMLN commander named in the Truth Commission who is still with the organization is none other than Salvador Sanchez Ceren. He benefits from the amnesty and it's hard to see the sitting vice-president fighting for its repeal.

Meanwhile in Guatemala, the trial against Pedro Pimentel, extradited by the United States last July for his alleged involvement in the Dos Erres massacre, began last Thursday. And in Canada, Jorge Vinicio Orantes Sosa is one step closer to extradition to the US after an appeals court denied his request for legal assistance.  Sosa is wanted in the US for lying on his immigration papers. However, Sosa is also alleged to have been involved in the Dos Erres massacre. Therefore, it's unclear whether he will serve any time in the US or if the government will simply begin deportation hearings to remove him to Guatemala.