The Very Curious Case of Mr. Gustavo De La Rosa Hickerson

Some news stories raise more questions than they answer.
Gustavo De La Rosa Hickerson, the Juarez Ombudsman for the Human Rights Commission of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, was released October 21 from one of the Department of Homeland Security’s detention facilities after six days of detention.

On October 15, while De La Rosa was about to enter the US with his US Consulate-issued laser visa, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents detained him when he answered “yes” to their question of whether he had reason to fear for his life in Mexico.

De La Rosa explained to the CBP agents that, as the Juarez Ombudsman for the Chihuahua State Human Rights Commission, his life had been threatened. He investigates accusations of human rights violations against the Mexican military. During the interview, De La Rosa clearly stated that, while he did fear for his life, he was not seeking political asylum at this time. He instead wanted to continue ongoing negotiations with Chihuahua state officials from whom he had requested security protection.

Nevertheless, CBP detained De La Rosa.

The detention raises serious questions and concerns. De La Rosa is a well known, high profile official of a governmental human rights office.

Why was De La Rosa detained?

On whose authority was De La Rosa detained?

Why was his clear declaration that he was not seeking political asylum disregarded?

If De La Rosa was detained for his own protection, more questions arise:

Why was De La Rosa placed in handcuffs and locked up in a detention facility?

Were there any political considerations involved in the decision to detain De La Rosa?

And finally: If someone of De La Rosa’s public stature is treated in this manner, what treatment do non-public persons receive?

Activists say they intend to file a formal request for a Congressional Inquiry on De La Rosa’s detention.

Some questions deserve answers.

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