THE RETREAT OF THE RULE OF LAW IN TRANSNATIONAL MIGRATION

This editorial outlines in editorial format how transnational criminal elements increasingly control and prey upon individuals who seek to escape from their typically under-developed countries of origin to seek relief and opportunity in more developed countries. Such individuals often are from the lower economic strata and lack education, elements on which the criminal predators capitalize. To the extent that the states through which such migrants or refugees pass in pursuit of their final destinations are underdeveloped and have dysfunctional law enforcement and justice system frameworks in place, their agents often collude with with such transnational criminal elements to exploit and otherwise violate their human rights. Justice is a public service to which such migrants and refugees en route often have little, if any, meaningful access. Court systems have a role in joining the discussion on how to better administer justice on behalf of those individuals.