Mary Kasant (Toronto, 1988) is the Main Researcher at Amnesty International for the United Statesa country that has experienced, according to the organization, a recoil In the guarantee of Human Rights. From the breach of judicial orders by Trump to the Attacks to the LGTBIQ communitythe criminalization of abortion and the continued Sending weapons to Israel when criticisms of the international community grow in their offensive in Gaza. In conversation with the newspaper, he warns of dangerous domino effect that can assume the precedent that The US does not comply with the norms of international law impunityand reflect on Who can stop a Trump’s feet reinforced in this second term.
The United States has gone from being supposedly guarantor of human rights to be indicated for its continuous breach of human rights. What changes observe on land?
There has been a significant change. In a matter of months, the magnitude and frequency of human rights violations in the United States have increased dramatically. It is no longer about isolated cases, but are part of a pattern that affects everyday life. We are also deeply concerned with the attacks against institutions and the rule of law, phenomena that we had not seen before in the United States to this point.
What are the most urgent human rights violations?
We are seeing an increase in authoritarian practices and erosion of the counterweight mechanisms that directly violate the constitution and separation of powers: attacks on judges and the refusal to fulfill judicial decisions, a growing hostility towards journalists and serious violations of human rights that affect migrants and asylum applicants, setbacks in access to abortion, and horrible attacks against the LGTBIQ community, which has been Turned into a scapegoat.
Mary Kapron, during the interview with El Periódico. / Jordi Cotrina
What makes Trump’s first mandate different?
It is much more intense. This time, Trump came better prepared, starting with the more than 100 executive orders ready to sign the first day. His attacks against the Judiciary, the media and other democratic institutions have become more systematic. The magnitude of the damage in just five months of mandate is not preceded. Having won the re -election, he seems to feel emboldened to go beyond, promoting an agenda that violates human rights. He surrounds himself with people with his trust without any transparency, such as Elon Musk, and goes for anyone who challenges him.
How do they see the deportation flights of the administration?
We are extremely concerned with the deportation of nationals from third countries such as Costa Rica, Panama and in particular Venezuelan citizens to El Salvador. Many are asylum applicants with ongoing cases-some have already obtained protection in the United States-and send them to places where their rights are in danger and are being expelled without due process, without being able to count on a lawyer or appear before a judge.
Can a president unilaterally revoke the condition of asylum applicant?
No, there is a legal procedure that must be met. Using the law of foreign enemies to pursue specific nationalities is a clear violation of US legislation. Although the courts intervene, as in the case of Venezuelans, the Administration continues to deport and challenge the judicial orders. It is a flagrant contempt for judicial resolutions. We support the ongoing litigation with reports that document human rights violations according to international law.
The main investigator of Amnesty International for the US, at the headquarters of the organization in Barcelona. / Jordi Cotrina
What happens when a president ignores the courts?
When Trump refuses to fulfill a court order, he undermines the entire legal system aimed at ensuring that power does not concentrate on the hands of a single person. If an elected leader can act without legal limits-meaning the courts, attacking the judges, silenced the press-, the systems designed to protect the rights begin to collapse. Although there is still space for civil society to exercise pressure-through litigation, public reports or defense-, it is increasingly difficult when the Executive openly despises the rule of law. But it is afraid if a point comes where they begin to ignore everything completely.
Amnesty will be accustomed to authoritarian leaders. How to deal with them?
In authoritarian contexts, we resort to international mechanisms such as the UN or the Inter -American Human Rights System, which can exert pressure when national roads fail. With the US it is more complicated because it has great power within these institutions. Not always. Gaza is a clear example of how international pressure can fail. Amnesty considers that what happens in Gaza constitutes a genocide, and that the US is financing and allowing it. However, the US imposes sanctions on the International Criminal Court for issuing arrest warrants against senior Israeli officials. The United States ceased to be a reliable defender of human rights, but until now it maintained a certain diplomatic role in the UN. That is also changing.
Europe is trying to fill that void. Is it working?
It is important that the European Union and other countries take a step forward in the defense of human rights and demand responsibilities to the US when it falls short. In the American continent it is more difficult to find a counterweight: some governments align with Trump’s policies, but others, such as Brazil and Chile, now have the opportunity to take the initiative, something vital before the new US policies on migration.
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