Texas Executes Mexican National Despite Violation of Consular Convention

On November 9, 2000, the state of Texas executed by injection Mexican national Miguel Flores despite protests by the Mexican and other foreign governments that Flores was denied his right under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations to contact the Mexican consulate after his arrest. Approximately five hours before his execution, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5 to 4 to deny his request for a reprieve. Earlier, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals refused to halt the execution...[more]