Mario Russell

Mario Russell is the executive director of the US-based Center for Migration Studies, where he advocates for the rights of asylum seekers and emphasizes the need for updates to legal definitions regarding asylum claims, particularly those fleeing violence from drug cartels. He highlights the challenges faced by victims of cartel violence in the US asylum process, noting that many are categorized under political grounds due to the profound social and political power of these gangs, which often operate as de facto governing entities in their regions.