Organizations denounce 12-hour CBP detention of Peace Summit participants

Organizations denounce CBP detention of American labor organizer Chris Smalls and two Mexican human rights defenders. 

  • On the night of September 18, three participants in the Summit for Peace were detained by U.S. immigration authorities while legally crossing the border. The people’s movement and organizations participating in the Summit demand an end to the criminalization of human rights defenders.

Ciudad Juárez, September 19. We, the human rights defenders from Mexico and the United States participating in the Peace Summit, denounce the detention by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of U.S. labor organizer Chris Smalls and two human rights defenders from the local Mexican organization Derechos Humanos Integrales en Acción (DHIA). All three have now been released after being held by U.S. immigration authorities for more than 12 hours.

We express our deep concern over the detention of the three human rights defenders, who were participating in the Peace Summit and in efforts to defend human rights and promote peace.

Holding them in custody and preventing them from communicating for more than 12 hours infringed upon their freedom of movement and contributed to a climate of intimidation against individuals and organizations dedicated to defending human rights.

We call on U.S. and Mexican authorities to fully protect and guarantee their rights, provide clear information regarding the circumstances of their detention and legal status, and put an end to the criminalization and intimidation of human rights defenders.

We express our solidarity with those detained and reiterate that the defense of human rights must be carried out without intimidation, harassment, or unjustified restrictions.

Ignored No More!

Movimiento Popular por la Paz y la Justicia
People’s Movement for Peace and Justice
Global Exchange
Derechos Humanos Integrales en Acción (DHIA)
Centro de Derechos Humanos Paso del Norte
Uno de Siete Migrando

Press contact in the United States:

Corina Nolet
Global Exchange
corina@globalexchange
(415) 575-5524