[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7571]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             RECENT DECISION TO EXTRADITE MEXICAN NATIONALS

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to praise the Mexican 
government's decision to extradite Everardo Arturo Paez Martinez.
  I have criticized Mexico's extradition policy for many years. 
Historically, Mexican drug kingpins have not paid much attention to 
indictments from the United States.
  Many Mexican Administrations have talked about reform. Some have even 
extradited a few low level criminals to placate U.S. critics.
  This critic has not been placated.
  Today, however, I am pleased and encouraged to see substantive reform 
taking place in Mexico. The Fox administration and the Mexican 
judiciary have taken an important step toward cooperation and 
partnership. Furthermore, extraditing such an infamous drug trafficker 
as ``El Kitti'' Paez sends a resounding signal that Mexico is not doing 
business as usual.
  Mexico's recent action should be recognized and commended. I hope 
that Mexico will continue to work with United States law enforcement 
and will become a partner in fighting crime as it is in other areas, 
such as trade.
  As a Senator from a border state, I look forward to working with 
President Fox on issues that affect both our nations and support his 
reform efforts.

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