The award-winning Mexican journalist, Emilio Gutiérrez Soto, reported alleged corruption in the Mexican military and is now wanted dead by powerful Mexican forces. After receiving various death threats for publishing the article, Gutierrez and his son sought asylum in the United States in 2008.
Gutierrez and his son now face deportation to one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. They were living in Texas when they got detained, and their appeal got denied last week after nearly a decade on parole.
He spoke to a translator from a for-profit West Texas Detention Center in Sierra Blanca during an event Monday night at the National Press Club. He asked the press not to forget his situation in what could become his last public statement.
“Please, please, do not forget us. Do not forget to publish the painful, terrifying situation that I’m in and the terrifying manner in which journalists have to work in Mexico,” he said. A Las Cruces group named La Alianza, led by local activist, Elisa Sanchez, is demanding the immediate release of the 54-year-old and his 24-year-old son, Oscar.
Linda Rivas, the executive director of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, represents Gutierrez and his son, who would have already been in Mexico since last week if the appeal board had not intervened. As a consequence of said occurrence, their parole got revoked, they were handcuffed, detained, transported, and are currently held in a facility in Sierra Blanca, Texas.
“Emilio’s detention is indicative of new ICE policies of full enforcement with zero regards for human life,” Rivas said in a statement. “This country needs to protect asylum seekers like Mr. Gutierrez, not treat them like criminals,” said Gutierrez’s other attorney in a separate statement.
This article was inspired by DEMOCRACY NOW // Mexican Journalist Emilio Gutiérrez Detained by ICE & Threatened with Deportation