Survivor of Mexico Violence Pedals for Justice to Advocate for US Asylum Seekers Juan Carlos Llorca - Associated Press
go to original November 11, 2013

Carlos Gutierrez, completed his "Pedaling for Justice" trek this weekend in Austin. (Marjorie Kamys Cotera/Texas Tribune)

EL PASO, Texas - Carlos Gutierrez passed out as the large blade cut through his legs — punishment for his refusal to pay a Mexican gang extortion fees from his successful catering business. He spent two weeks in critical condition and sought asylum in the U.S. as soon as he was able.

Now he faces long odds on getting approval to stay in the U.S., but Gutierrez has been staging an unusual demonstration to call attention to his plight and to the thousands of other Mexicans who seek asylum in the U.S. each year from drug cartel violence.

Gutierrez has been riding his bicycle through Texas using his prosthetic legs, talking to everyone he meets.

"If someone from Cuba or from Venezuela can get asylum, why not someone from Mexico?" said Gutierrez, who spent nearly two weeks on his 800-mile (1,300-kilometre) bicycle trek.

U.S. law allows asylum for those who have credible fear of persecution based on their race, religion, national origin, political status or membership in a particular social group.

But Mexican asylum seekers have struggled to convince U.S. courts they fit in any of these categories, with approval rates running at 1 to 2 per cent. By contrast, more than a fourth of immigrants from other Latin American countries such as Colombia and Venezuela were granted asylum last year. Many can cite ethnic or political grounds.

Since he hopped on his bicycle on Oct. 28, Gutierrez has been making his case for change. His journey ended Saturday.

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