The National Court has authorized the extradition to Mexico of a 58-year-old Spanish priest, originally from Zaragoza, so that he can face justice in the state of Jalisco for several complaints of sexual abuse of minors. According to El Confidencial, the process refers to three girls between 10 and 13 years old who resided in a shelter home and who, independently, described similar actions during moments of spiritual attention.
The case is framed within the extradition file 29/2025, handled by the Criminal Chamber. The priest, identified in the judicial documentation as Ramón L. E., was arrested on March 28 following an order issued by Interpol. Although he was released on provisional liberty the next day, the case remained active while the formal request presented by the Government of Mexico was resolved, with the backing of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A long trajectory in international missions
According to the cited medium, the priest had been a missionary for more than two decades, first in Africa and later in Latin America. His presence in media and religious publications was habitual, where he recounted pastoral experiences and mission projects. The investigation promoted by a court in Jalisco maintains that, during his stay in Mexico, the priest would have maintained frequent contact with a shelter home where the minors resided.
The Mexican procedure accuses him of child sexual abuse and aggravated corruption of minors, charges that require the physical appearance of the investigated party to be processed.
The testimony that triggered the investigation
According to the documentation cited by El Confidencial, one of the minors went with her father to the Jalisco Prosecutor's Office for the protection of minors in August 2022 to report allegedly improper behaviors that occurred months earlier. The minor stated that she had felt uncomfortable during a private confession due to the priest's conduct, which—according to her account—exceeded the proper limits of spiritual accompaniment.
The prosecutor's office immediately opened an investigation, gathering statements from other girls who described coinciding situations. These coincidences led to the formal request for international detention in 2024.
Silence in the shelter home and the priest's sudden departure
According to the judicial reports, the priest stopped attending the shelter home shortly after the reported events. The minors were then informed that he had returned to Spain for family reasons, although comments about possible prior problems circulated in the center.
This context reinforced the request from the Mexican authorities, who considered his trial in national territory necessary.
The appeal attempting to halt the extradition
After learning of the favorable decision from the National Court, the priest has filed an appeal for reconsideration to try to stop the process. The resolution, however, considers that the legal requirements for his delivery are met, and supports Mexico's jurisdiction to judge the facts.
With this step, the case awaits the final decision on that appeal, which will determine whether the priest will be transferred to the requesting country to face the criminal proceedings.
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