March 17, 2009 – The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a 2005 jury verdict holding former Vice-Minister of Defense of El Salvador Nicolas Carranza liable for crimes against humanity. On November 18, 2005, a Memphis jury found Carranza responsible for overseeing the plaintiffs’ torture and the killing of their family members. The jury awarded $6 million in damages. CJA is hopeful that this appellate decision will encourage the U.S. Justice Department to bring proceedings to revoke Carranza’s citizenship based on his human rights violations. Carranza came to the United States in 1985 and became a citizen in 1991.
