• The new consulate will serve 450,000 Mexicans who previously had to travel to Arkansas or Texas
  • Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and Governor Kevin Stitt agree to increase trade between Mexico and Oklahoma
  • The inauguration responds to President López Obrador’s desire to serve and protect Mexicans wherever they live
  • Foreign Secretary Ebrard was honored by Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt with the keys to the city

Mexico’s consular network in the United States continues to grow. Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard today inaugurated a new Mexican consulate in Oklahoma, Mexico’s 52nd consulate in the U.S.

The new consulate will serve the growing Mexican community in the state of Oklahoma, which currently exceeds 450,000 people, and who until now had to travel more than four hours to reach the nearest consulate.

Foreign Secretary Ebrard said that the Mexican government is fulfilling the vision of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of serving and protecting Mexicans wherever they are.

"When we discussed with the senators where we were going to open new consulates, one of the main arguments was the size and importance of the Mexican-American and Mexican community here in Oklahoma, that has been forgotten for many years," said the Foreign Secretary.

"It means recognizing our community and is also an example of what Mexico and the United States can do if they work together with respect and consideration,” he said.

In addition to protection and documentation, the new consulate headed by Edurne Pineda will promote greater economic, trade, cultural and tourist exchanges between Mexico and Oklahoma.

Foreign Secretary Ebrard met with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt; the officials agreed to work together to increase trade, business and tourism between Mexico and the state.

Members and leaders of the Mexican community in Oklahoma and the region attended the colorful inauguration ceremony, with mariachi music and Mexican food, applauding the new and nearby consular services.

The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Mexico’s Ambassador to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma; Chief Officer for North America Roberto Velasco; the head of the Administration and Finance Unit, Moisés Poblanno; Director General of Consular Services Jaime Vázquez Bracho; and Director General of Consular Protection and Strategic Planning Vanessa Calva.

In his remarks, Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma said, "It is a day to celebrate in Oklahoma because we are opening a consulate that will serve a community of around half a million people."

Chief Officer for North America Velasco said, "Opening this office is part of the strategy that Secretary Ebrard has entrusted to us and that, of course, derives from what President López Obrador has asked us to do. The protection of the Mexican community abroad is the main priority of Mexico's foreign policy.”

The new services

The new consulate, located at 1131 W Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, will first focus on meeting the strong demand for documentation from the Mexican community.  

The consulate will gradually phase in all consular services, including consular protection and community programs in health, financial education and educational guidance, to benefit the Mexican community and the society to which they belong.

As of June 1, the consulate will assist with passports, consular ID cards and voter registration cards. Appointments are available through MiConsulado at https://miconsulado.sre.gob.mx/ or by calling +1(424)309 0009.

Dialogue with the Mexican community

While in Oklahoma, the Foreign Secretary held a dialogue with members of the Mexican community to listen to their needs.

Participating in the meeting were: community leaders Gloria Torres, Arturo Alonso Sandoval, Vicente Ruiz, Nancy Galván and Óscar Rodríguez; José Luis Valdez, Mauricio Zúñiga, Ana Dubia Duin, Luis Padilla and Denise Ramos from Kansas; Christy Joyce Moreno, Laura Benítez and Leonard Rodríguez Dañú from Florida; Margarita Salas Crespo and Janet Quintero from Nevada; Ricardo Morales Bermudez of Arizona; Eudoxio Moreno, Sigifredo Muñoz, Sara Caballero and María Covernalli from Texas; and Marisol Reynoso from New Brunswick; in addition to federal deputies from Mexico, Mario Torres, Maria Rosete and Yolanda Martinez.

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