Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2007
Contact: Olivia Goumbri, Venezuela Information Office, 202-347-8081 x601
U.S. Unresponsive For 2 Years as Venezuela Seeks Extradition of Terrorist Posada Carriles
Today, June 15th, marks the two year anniversary of Venezuela's extradition request for Luis Posada Carriles, who is wanted for terrorist acts including the murders of 73 innocent victims of a deadly airline bombing in 1976. Posada Carriles is a citizen of Venezuela, where he escaped from jail in 1985 while awaiting trial for the bombing. The U.S. has yet to respond to Venezuela's extradition request, despite binding treaty agreements that require it to do so and an official renewal of its request filed yesterday by the Venezuelans.
Venezuela filed a formal extradition request with the U.S. State Department on June 15, 2005, providing voluminous documentary evidence of Posada Carriles' criminal past. The case was referred to the Department of Justice, but never presented before a federal district court as is required by law. This has raised questions about inconsistencies in the U.S. "war on terror."
Posada Carriles entered the U.S. illegally and resided in Miami for months before being detained by the U.S. Immigration, Customs and Enforcement Agency (ICE). By failing to deport Posada Carriles, ICE set a precedent revealing the U.S. government’s lenient stance on Posada even before his immigration trial had begun. Charges of immigration fraud brought against Posada Carriles were dropped two days before a trial that was set for May 11, 2007. Texas Judge Kathleen Cardone dismissed the charges in response to claims made by his lawyers that the U.S. government had used “deceit” and “trickery” in the case.
Immigration charges against Posada Carriles are the most recent in a long history of legal violations by the anti-Castro militant and former CIA operative. Earlier this week, U.S. federal prosecutors appealed Judge Cardone’s ruling, giving new hope to those who wish to see the notorious criminal brought to justice. However, many have expressed concern about the delays in trying Posada Carriles, and have argued that charges of immigration fraud show that the U.S. has taken insufficient action against a known terrorist.
Venezuela's Ambassador to the White House Bernardo Alvarez has stated that, "Should Posada be allowed to escape justice for his vicious crimes, it will send a powerful message to the international community that some terrorism is acceptable. It isn't."
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NOTE: The Venezuela Information Office is dedicated to informing the American
public about contemporary Venezuela, and receives its funding from the
government of Venezuela. More information is available from the FARA office
of the Department of Justice in Washington DC.
Venezuela Information Office
2000 P Street NW, Suite 240,
Washington, DC 20036
tel: (202) 347-8081
fax: (202) 223-8029
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