DALLAS, March 9 (UPI) -- The Bush administration intends to order states to review the capital convictions of Mexican prisoners who claim their international rights were violated.
The new policy was revealed in a "friend of the court" brief filed last week in the appeal of a Texas death row inmate before the U.S. Supreme Court, The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday.
Jose Ernesto Medellin, who raped and killed two teenage girls, contends Texas law enforcement officials denied him a chance to seek help from his consulate as required by international law.
There are 51 Mexicans on death rows in California, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Ohio, and Oregon. They could get new hearings, although Texas may challenge the move.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said the Bush administration's "determination exceeds the constitutional bounds for federal authority."
Last year, the International Court of Justice, acting on a complaint from Mexico, ordered the death sentences of the 51 Mexicans reviewed on the issue.
