Mexican Businessman Requests Political Asylum in the US After Being Mutilated by Cartel Extortion

Mexican businessman Carlos Gutiérrez hopes that the US grants his political asylum after a criminal group cut his legs off after resisting their extortion.

In Mexico, the leaders of political parties came together to support the migrant's cause who was a victim of organized crime in the state of Chihuahua where he used to be a businessman that sold food and drinks at public events, according to Mexican magazine Proceso.

The sister of former President Felipe Calderón and Senator for the National Action Party, Luisa María Calderón, explained that Carlos Gutiérrez was extorted by a criminal group that wanted $10,000 per month and when the businessman refused, he was attacked and they cut off his legs.

The Senator said that there are thousands of cases like Gutiérrez', where families ask the government for protection from organized crime. Senator Calderón added that in her native state of Michoacán there are over 5,000 people requesting more security from authorities.

Gutiérrez learned to live with two prosthetic legs and moved to Texas to better protect his family.

In an interview with Univisión, Gutiérrez explained that after the criminals cut off his legs, they threatened him saying they would hurt his family, especially his children, who they would kill if he didn't pay for "protection".

Charles Spector, the lawyer managing the Mexican man's case in Texas, assured that his client was a victim of crime "authorized" by the Mexican government and must be protected by the United States.

But American authorities say that Gutiérrez does not qualify for political asylum since he was persecuted for his money.

Mexican Senator Javier Orihuela told Proceso that it's disappointing to know that many Mexicans leave for the US to seek political asylum and security which they can't receive in Mexico.

"It's sad to acknowledge this and having to ask another country to speed up a political asylum process, it's sad that the Mexican government can't protect the life of its citizens," the Senator said.