Extradition from Mexico to the United States—Raul Gomez-Garcia

An AP story, which has been picked up by at least one Colorado news source,^[1] regarding the potential extradition of Raul Gomez-Garcia to the United States warrants a correction. The last paragraph states:

The extradition could have been delayed or denied if prosecutors had charged Gomez-Garcia with first-degree murder. Conviction on that charge can bring the death penalty or life imprisonment, and Mexico does not extradite citizens facing execution or a life term.^[2]

However, as we noted at the end of November, while Mexico will still refuse extradition for death penalty cases, it will extradite individuals in life imprisonment cases because it, in a 6-5 decision, struck down a constitutional ban on life imprisonment.^[3]

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[1] Prosecutors Await Word on Gomez-Garcia Extradition, RockyMountainNews.com. Dec. 22, 2005.
[2] Id.
[3] See e.g., Mexican High Court Loosens Extradition Rules, CNN.com, Nov. 30, 2005.