The incident occurred in a high security area that is regularly used for the purpose of deportation and is fully controlled by the federal government. Detainees in the area are searched and processed before entry.

“This points to the fact that US immigration authorities are not property trained to deal with migrants, especially those who are in their custody,” said Ramirez.

Agents brutally beat and used a taser on Rojas, which is what many believe led to his eventual death.

“According to eye witnesses, up to 20 agents may have participated in the beating of Anastasio. Some witnesses say he was kicked, punched and tased while he was on the floor. Obviously this is an excessive use of force. The medical examiner’s office yesterday ruled this a homicide and we are asking that a criminal investigation be opened immediately,” said Ramirez.

In its description of the incident, the US Border Patrol said: “The subject became combative. After repeated orders to cease one of the officers deployed a taser to subdue the individual and maintain officer safety.”

“We have reason to believe and documentation to prove that there is a pattern of human rights abuse along the border and that it has to do with improper training, it has to do with the fact that there is very little accountability over border patrol agents and this is part of the recommendations that we have given the Obama administration," said Ramirez.

There is a growing climate of anti-immigration sentiment in America which can be seen most notably in the recent Arizona anti-immigration law. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer met with US President Barack Obama on June 3 to discuss the immigration issue and a request for increased troops on the US-Mexico border.

“We want to make sure that President Barack Obama ensures that the civil liberties and the human rights of all people who live in the United States are protected,” said Ramirez.

He continued, “We cannot afford to have a governor running amok in Arizona implementing one of them most xenophobic and backwards pieces of legislation see in them modern history of the United States. We need more than just meetings; we need more than just pretty speeches by the president. We need to make sure that justice is done.”