Juan Cruz Extradition Essay

The definition of Extradition is the act of one jurisdiction of handing over or delivering an individual who has been accused of committing crimes in another jurisdiction. Usually, two jurisdictions have to have an extradition treaty or deal for them to honour the extradition of an individual. However, there are many grounds of refusal and challenges that extradition is subject to. The grounds of refusal are based on nationality, political offenders, the Principle of Non Bid In Idem, and the death penalty. In the case of Juan Cruz, a member of the Mexican army who was part of the military death squads and was responsible for executing 150 people without knowing who they were, he deserted the army and ran away from Mexico to Canada. The Mexican government requests his extradition for the atrocities he committed including deserting the army. However, Cruz claims that he was just simply following orders whereas Cruz was arrested multiple times and jailed for 13 days while serving in the army. He often failed to obey orders, sleeping on duty, and frequently being absent without leave. Juan Cruz faces the death penalty, a rule under which Canada has the right to refuse extradition

Cruz knew what was being done and choose only to act when it benefitted himself. Individuals on the other side of the aisle may argue that he was forced to make those decisions. Was it the same when Cruz denied other military orders for which he was jailed for? Four years is a long time to realize what is happening. Justice must be served to those individuals and their families who happened to be political prisoners and were killed by Cruz during his tenure in the death squads. Cruz should be extradited to Mexico so that justice should be served to him as well as to those he