Professor Keitner Talks to N.Y. Times About Mexico Pursuing Justice for Deaths in U.S.

Professor Chimène Keitner spoke to The New York Times about Mexican officials’ announcement on June 9 that they planned to file criminal complaints in the United States regarding the deaths of several Mexican citizens during immigration operations.

Officials said they already had sent 11 requests to the U.S. State Department seeking investigations into immigrant deaths, the Times reported. They also raised the issue with the U.N. high commissioner for human rights and a regional human rights body, although Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum noted that “our goal is to go beyond diplomatic notes.”

“The first goal is diplomatic engagement—and it sounds like this has hit a dead end,” Keitner told the Times.

Professor Keitner is a leading authority on international law and civil litigation and served as the 27th Counselor on International Law in the U.S. Department of State.