Mexican Man Executed In Texas Despite Mexican Government Trying To Stop It

Ruben Cardenas Ramirez, 41, has been on death row since his conviction for the 1997 murder and rape of his 16-year-old cousin, Mayra Laguna. Cardenas Ramirez got executed last Wednesday night November 9th in Texas at 10:26 P.M., despite the many attempts of the Mexican government to stop the process.

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The execution was condemned in a press release by the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations (SRE) posted on their website:

“Mexico condemns the execution of our citizen Ruben Cardenas Ramirez in Texas. This government opposes the death penalty for considering it one of the primary violations of human right as well as a cruel and inhumane sanction that undermines people’s dignities.”

One of the reasons the Mexican government insisted so much on stopping the execution was because Cardenas Ramirez claimed innocence until his final moment. Mexico’s top officials, who were concerned that Ramirez’s confession was coerced, tried using updated DNA tests with the hopes that they would exonerate the inmate.

According to Deputy Foreign Minister, Carlos Sada, Cardenas Ramirez’s execution violated the Vienna Convention because the prisoner was not given the chance to speak to representatives from his country of origin. The Cardenas Ramirez case is similar to the Avena case of 2004 when The International Court of Justice ruled that the U.S. was in violation of international law for not telling the 54 Mexican nationals on death row, including Cardenas, that they had the right to assistance from their country.

“The Government of Mexico exhorts the United States to once again assume the effective actions that prevent that any of the states that form the country, including Texas, execute Mexican nationals in deliberate disrespect to the Avena ruling and breaching of their international duties,” wrote the SRE. “The SRE reiterates its deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Cardenas Ramirez to whom we will continue to offer the proper consular assistance and accompaniment.”

Ramirez left a letter behind where he expressed gratitude to his family and to all the people that gave him legal counsel. He also used the opportunity to reaffirm his innocence.

“I will not and cannot apologize for someone else’s crime, but, I will be back for justice, you can count on that,” wrote the now-deceased convict.

Roxana Jones, the sister of Mayra Laguna, also wrote a letter that was to be shared after Ramirez execution.

“After 21 years of waiting, justice was finally served. Words can’t begin to describe the relief it feels that there is true peace after so much pain and sorrow,” read the sister’s letter.

Article inspired by NY Daily News // Mexico tries to stop Texas from executing its citizen