U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno defended the United States' decision to return Elian Gonzales to his native Cuba during her keynote address Saturday at a Law School conference celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Virginia Journal of International Law.
"We are committed to doing what we believe to be the law," Reno said in regards to the Gonzales case.
For several months, U.S. courts had been trying to determine who had legal custody of Gonzales, a young Cuban refugee, whose mother drowned as the two fled to America. His father wanted Gonzales returned to Cuba while American relatives claimed custody and wanted Gonzales to remain in the United States.
The United States now has decided that Gonzales' father had legal custody and ordered the boy returned to Cuba.
Reno, who has been at the center of making decisions in this controversial case, fielded several questions regarding the Gonzales case following her keynote speech.
Reno said she is trying not to politicize the Gonzales issue.
In her keynote address Reno also discussed how "crime has become international." As technology and Internet access has increased, international crime has become more commonplace, she said.
It is now easier for criminals in any part of the world to commit crimes in other countries without leaving their homes. This type of international crime "makes the world seem a world without borders," Reno said.
In order to combat growing concern for international crime, countries need to begin working together rather than concentrating only on their own concerns, Reno said.
"We will not be able to face solely domestic issues in this century, in this millennium," she said. "We need to give attention to the whole world rather than a small piece."
Reno now is establishing a program called "Project Map the World" which will provide countries a chance to look at international criminal issues and work together to find solutions, she added.
"My goal, my dream is a network of sharing and trust," Reno said.
She said countries should begin by looking at issues such as fraud, gun smuggling and organized crime.
She also stressed the importance of helping developing countries establish their own democracies, which would help foster a stronger community of nations around the world.
"We've got to encourage new countries around the world to look at [the world] as a whole," she added.
In concluding her speech, Reno reiterated the importance of recognizing new problems with international crime that are arising in this age of expanding technology.
The conference also hosted several discussion panels on international crime issues.
Read More
Honor Committee considers formal ban of AI detectors as evidence in trials
By Lexie Stadler | 22 hours agoThe Committee also addressed balancing student perspectives with those of Committee representatives during panel discussions.
Pro-Palestinian protesters form encampment near University Chapel
By CD News Staff | 22 hours agoThe encampment overlapped with a separate “May Day” protest on the Lawn, which was hosted by student activist group U.Va. Dissenters and the U.Va. Apartheid Divest Coalition.
Another aggravated assault incident reported to UPD
By Thomas Baxter | 23 hours agoThis is the first community alert of May.
