New York, NY, August 26, 2025 – Attorneys at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and LatinoJustice PRLDEF last week petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to hear the case of Oswaldo Marcelo Lucero, an Ecuadorian immigrant who was murdered in 2008 in a racially-motivated attack by a group of teenagers. In their application for an IACHR merits hearing, the attorneys argue that the case clearly illustrates how anti-immigrant rhetoric and xenophobic attitudes can lead to hate crimes – a topic made all the more relevant amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

On November 8, 2008, Mr. Lucero was assaulted, stabbed and killed by a group of seven young men motivated by racial bias in Patchogue, New York. The teenagers reportedly drove around the streets of Suffolk County looking for Latinos to assault, targeting two other Latino men just hours before Mr. Lucero’s murder. The attack occurred amid a broader context of vitriolic, anti-immigrant policies espoused by the then-Suffolk County Executive and immigration enforcement activities by the Suffolk County Police Department.

“17 years later, this case serves as a stark reminder of what happens when we vilify immigrants and people of color,” said Delia Addo-Yobo, staff attorney at RFK Human Rights. “Hateful rhetoric is the first step towards violence – and for Mr. Lucero, that rhetoric cost him his life.”

Though Mr. Lucero’s murder was widely reported at the time, little has been done to prevent similar attacks or protect Latinos from incidents of hate. Violence against Latinos and immigrants is on the rise, and the perpetrators are drawing their inspiration, their mandate and their immunity directly from the highest levels of authority in the U.S. government. 

“We call for a hearing not only for accountability for the killing of Marcelo Lucero, but to expose the ongoing failures to protect immigrants from systemic racism and violence,” said Rafaela Uribe, Associate Counsel for Racial Justice, LatinoJustice PRLDEF. “This case is about ensuring that government is held accountable for failing to prevent these hate fueled acts and for creating conditions where immigrants are treated as less than human.”

The IACHR hearing request is the latest development in a years-long pursuit of justice and reform following Mr. Lucero’s murder. In December 2008, LatinoJustice PRLDEF filed a petition with the IACHR alleging human rights violations by the United States for failing to ensure the safety and security of Latinos residing in the U.S. The petition contends that Latinos are increasingly being targeted, attacked, brutalized and murdered because of their race, ethnicity and perceived immigration status throughout the United States. 

If accepted, the hearing will take place in November 2025. Participants, including Mr. Lucero’s brother, Joselo Lucero, would testify on the government’s ongoing failure to protect Latinos, as well as the importance of youth education and racial justice curriculum that help prevent hate violence.

About Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights

We are a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that has worked to realize Robert F. Kennedy’s dream of a more just and peaceful world since 1968. In partnership with local activists, we advocate for key human rights issues—championing change makers and pursuing strategic litigation at home and around the world. And to ensure change that lasts, we foster a social-good approach to business and investment and educate millions of students about human rights and social justice.

About LatinoJustice 

LatinoJustice PRLDEF works to create a more just society by using and challenging the rule of law to secure transformative, equitable and accessible justice, by empowering our community and by fostering leadership through advocacy and education. For over 50 years, LatinoJustice PRLDEF has acted as an advocate against injustices throughout the country. To learn more about LatinoJustice, visit www.LatinoJustice.org