"Not Even as a U.S. Citizen Am I Safe," Says Brother of Slain Ecuadorian Before IACHR

Nearly 18 years after the murder of his Ecuadorian brother Oswaldo Marcelo Lucero in Long Island, New York, Joselo Lucero has testified before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The hearing is examining whether the United States violated its international obligations by fostering an environment of discrimination and violence against the Latino community.

During the hearing, Joselo denounced the persistent climate of hatred against migrants in the U.S., stating, "Not even as a U.S. citizen am I safe." He explained that he waited almost two decades to speak out about his brother's murder, which occurred on November 8, 2008, at the hands of a group of youths targeting immigrants. He aims to expose what he considers a continuing risk to the Latino community.

Marcelo had migrated to the U.S. to support his family in Ecuador after his father's death, becoming the primary economic provider. Joselo, who later became a U.S. citizen, believes his brother's case exemplifies an ongoing problem. "Every time I see the news, I see people being arrested, being mistreated," he said, emphasizing that migrants leave their families behind seeking a better life and do not abandon their countries lightly.

Lucero also criticized the way hate crimes against Latinos are often overlooked and called for changes in law enforcement practices. "It is not possible that the police, when a crime against a Latino is reported, the first thing they ask is about your immigration status, when the important thing is the victim," he argued. Sara Becker, an attorney with LatinoJustice, presented evidence during the hearing suggesting patterns of unequal treatment by the New York Police Department towards Latino individuals, even as victims.

The case before the IACHR focuses on whether U.S. authorities allowed conditions that facilitated attacks like the one that killed Marcelo Lucero in 2008. Lucero hopes the proceedings will spur changes in how the migrant community is treated and send a "message to the world" about human rights violations affecting Hispanics in the United States.