Mexican government cancels plans for Las Vegas consulate

By Timothy Pratt (contact)

Thursday, May 10, 2001 | 10:25 a.m.

The Mexican government has canceled plans to open a consulate in Las Vegas, even as the U.S. Census Bureau released a report showing that Mexicans are fueling the Hispanic population boom here and across the nation.

During a three-hour session with members of Congress in Mexico City, Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Castaneda announced that 23 of 45 consulates across the United States will face budget cuts this year, and that consulates in Las Vegas and the border city of Yuma, Ariz., would not be built.

"This will impact dramatically on Mexican families here in Las Vegas and Nevada in general," said Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.

"I've watched the Mexican population grow since I was a kid, and I know what it's like for those who live here to try and bring family members from abroad, and it's heartbreaking."

A new census report issued today shows that Mexicans comprise 72.5 percent of Nevada's Hispanic population of 393,970, higher than the national average of 58 percent.

"We're aware that there is an important Mexican presence in Las Vegas, and that's why we wanted to open the consulate in the first place. And we still intend to do so, when finances permit," Liliana Gonzalez, spokeswoman for the Mexican Embassy, said.

The increasing Mexican population led to local efforts to bring a consulate here several years ago.

"We've been writing letters to the President of Mexico and the Foreign Affairs Minister for two years now, urging support for the opening of a consulate," Berkley said.

On the state level, Sen. Jon Porter, R-Henderson, had drafted a resolution to the same effect, which is now in the Assembly. His office was surprised by the news.

"Still, we believe the Mexican government's commitment remains intact, and just as we (North) Americans are facing budgetary constraints, we're understanding of theirs. In any case, we will continue to move forward, whether it takes three months or a year and a half," Maureen Schafer, spokeswoman for Porter, said.

Total budget cuts for consular services in the United States were just below 3 percent, Castaneda said. He also said that these cuts will affect prison visits, free 1-800 telephone service, consular service hours and the construction of a consulate in Chicago, already under way.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who met with Mexican Ambassador Juan Jose Bremer in March, still holds hope that Mexico will locate a consulate in Las Vegas at some point in the near future, Reid spokesman Nathan Naylor said. Officials in the Mexican Embassy in Washington told Reid staffers Wednesday that the Las Vegas consulate was merely caught in budget negotiations in Mexico, and it is still a possibility, Naylor said.

When Mexico opens a new consulate in the United States, its top priority will be Las Vegas, Naylor said.