State-Sponsored Abductions in International Extradition Laws

State-sponsored abductions are internationally recognized as a violation of human rights and state jurisdiction. However, the current international extradition laws have not been enforced and have allowed states to forcibly abduct individuals from other states in order to prosecute them for their crimes in the abductor's state. In the case of U.S. v. Alvarez-Machalin, the United States violated the jurisdiction of Mexico to obtain Machalin and charge him for torturing and killing an official U.S. agent. The international extradition process has failed to prevent state-sponsored abduction because of its tedious and lengthy procedure and lack of enforcement. The current extradition treaties are outdated and have failed to uphold current human rights discourse. As a result, the U.S. has not been held accountable for their actions although it is a clear violation of international law.