To people of color in the United States, the death of Anastasio Hernández-Rojas — a brutal killing at the hands of U.S. government officials followed by impunity — is all too familiar. Yet in an extraordinary moment challenging that impunity, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights convened a hearing in November to consider testimony about his treatment by Customs and Border Protection agents.
By requiring the United States to appear and defend its policies, the commission’s review of this case offers a unique opportunity: a legal finding by an independent international body that “use of force” policies in the U.S. are contrary to its obligations under international law, not to mention basic human rights.
On May 28, 2010, Hernández-Rojas — an undocumented Mexican national and father of five — attempted to cross from Mexico into the U.S. at the border near San Diego. He was detained by border patrol agents. He was then violently abused, according to detailed allegations presented to the Inter-American Commission.
