Mexican consulate team sets up shop in Clovis

Eastern New Mexico News, Clovis, N.M.
·2 min read

Oct. 22—Staff from the Mexican consulate in Albuquerque set up shop for the weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) in Clovis in the auditorium at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church at Davis and W. Second streets.

Ana Maria del Carmen Mendez Piña works in the legal affairs department of the Consulate.

"We have two other departments," Piña said. "Documentation and Community Outreach."

Piña said the mobile consulate program is part of the Consulate's community outreach effort.

Piña said not only are "mobile consulates" set up in Clovis "two or three times a year" but also Ruidoso, Santa Fe, Taos, Española and Farmington.

"Just this year we started visiting communities in northwest Texas," Piña said. "In 15 days we'll be in Amarillo."

Piña said the staff works closely with American federal, state and local officials.

"We work to educate Mexican citizens on their rights here in the United States," she said.

Piña said staff visits Mexican citizens who are in U.S. prisons, staff helps family on what to do if a Mexican citizen dies in the U.S., what to do about getting the body back to Mexico.

"Taking care of human rights," Piña said is part of the work of her department.

What about services for American citizens?

"If you are not planning on staying in Mexico more that 180 days you don't need a visa," Piña said.

Asked about the most unusual request she's had in the past five years she's worked at the Consulate in Albuquerque or on the road with the mobile consulate it was from the Americans who drop in.

"A few times a year American citizens drop in looking to get an American passport from us," Piña said. "We tell them the correct place to go."

Piña said Mexican citizens request a Mexican passport from the Consulate because the passport is the preferred ID of Mexican citizens in the United States.

Consulate officials also help Mexican citizens in the United States with options on paying taxes, getting an education, getting financial support and more.

"With our community outreach we try to make visible all the options the Mexican citizen has to empower themselves," Piña said. "Our main goal is to defend and promote Mexican citizens' interests."

Piña noted the long history the United States and Republic of Mexico have together.

"The Consulate has been in Albuquerque for 173 years, since 1849," Piña said. "We have a long story together."