By Natalia Rueda 
The case of Timothy Livingston, a US citizen accused of sexually exploiting minors in Medellín, has raised doubts about the effectiveness of the extradition process between Colombia and the United States. Despite the efforts of the Colombian pdijin, Livingston cannot be extradited from the United States due to the lack of an agreement between both countries.
According to Ministry of Justice records, 70 extradition requests have been filed for individuals who have committed crimes in Colombia while in the United States. Surprisingly, only nine of these requests have been granted and all of the individuals were born in Colombia. This stark disparity has raised concerns about the fairness and effectiveness of the extradition process between the two countries.
In an attempt to bring Livingston to justice, the Colombian government issued a blue circular to locate him. However, the director of Colombia’s national police, Edwin Urrego, has stated that they are exploring other legal mechanisms as there is currently no agreement in place for the extradition of US citizens to Colombia.
One of the main obstacles in this case is the fact that Livingston has not yet been formally charged or convicted of the alleged crimes. Therefore, no red notice has been issued, which would indicate an outstanding arrest warrant. This shows the limitations of the current extradition process: without formal charges or convictions, it is difficult for a country to effectively request the extradition of a criminal.
In conclusion, the Timothy Livingston case has drawn attention to the limitations of the current extradition process between Colombia and the United States. It is hoped that this case will continue to move forward and Livingston will be convicted for the damages caused.
With information from El Colombiano