[Arkansas:]Demand doubles in first six months at Mexican consulate

Pine Bluff Commercial ^ | November 13, 2007 | JON GAMBRELL

[SwinneySwitch]

LITTLE ROCK - The growing Mexican population in Arkansas and neighboring mid-south states created a demand for passports and identity cards beyond what even the Mexican government prepared for.

In its first six months, the Mexican consulate based in Little Rock has seen the number of citizens it serves a day rise from 50 to 120, said consul Andres Chao. Now, Chao said the consulate plans to hire three or more new staffers in the coming year, anticipating demand will only grow.

The demand is there for the office to process more papers, but the office doesn't have the workers, Chao told reporters after giving a speech at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. "If we add another eight (workers), we could attend daily probably 300 people yet to come."

The consulate, located across the street from the university, opened in April to provide services to Mexicans living in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee. In the time since, Chao said citizens have scheduled as many appointments as his staff of 12 can handle. Most seek matricula consular identity cards or passports, while others come for legal protection or other needs.

So far, Chao said consulate employees have issued more than 10,000 documents since April.

Census estimates show about 141,000 Hispanics now live in Arkansas, with the majority of those coming from Mexico for jobs in construction, poultry plants or the service industry. Chao said officials would hold a "mobile consulate" this weekend in Oklahoma City to offer identity papers for those there.

Some of that demand may drop as the Mexican government opens a new consulate in New Orleans. Many Mexican workers came to the city after the hurricanes of 2005, taking up construction jobs as the city started to rebuild. Chao said the New Orleans consulate likely would help many of those coming to Little Rock from Louisiana.

Despite that help, Chao said the high demand for service will continue.

"It's too early for me to say that's the plateau," Chao said.

New laws also could affect demand. Chao said he's heard stories about Mexican immigrants and other Hispanics leaving Oklahoma after the state's Legislature passed strict laws against illegal immigrants. However, Chao said he didn't know whether Arkansas lawmakers would follow suit.

"We'll have to wait until 2009," Chao said.

[SwinneySwitch]

According to Chao, the Mexican Consulate does not ask its clients their legal status as its duty is to defend the rights of Mexican citizens abroad!

Are "mobile consulates" legal?

Mexican Consulate in Little Rock: http://portal.sre.gob.mx/littlerock

[SwinneySwitch]

Ping!

If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.

[AuntB]

Mexican Consulate in Little Rock: http://portal.sre.gob.mx/littlerock

Thank you Mike Huckabee, no wonder your Arkansas favorable ratings are single digits.

[doodad]

How are there any able-bodied citizens, or disabled for that matter, left in Mexico? Geesh!

[SwinneySwitch]

According to the CIA there are 108,700,891 (July 2007 est.) Mexicans still there.

[doodad]

Hmmm. 1000 rich ones and 108,699,891 to serve them? No, still too many. Send another 100 million to the gringos.

[Travis McGee]

LITTLE ROCK - The growing Mexican population in Arkansas and neighboring mid-south states created a demand for passports and identity cards beyond what even the Mexican government prepared for. In its first six months, the Mexican consulate based in Little Rock has seen the number of citizens it serves a day rise from 50 to 120, said consul Andres Chao. Now, Chao said the consulate plans to hire three or more new staffers in the coming year, anticipating demand will only grow.

These are ILLEGAL ALIENS, and our own government is HELPING THEM TO INVADE OUR COUNTRY!!!!

U.S. Constitution, Article 4 Section 4:

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,

and shall protect each of them against Invasion;"

---

Invasion: \In*va"sion\, n. [L. invasio: cf. F. invasion. See Invade.] [1913 Webster]

1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.

QUISLING: a synonym for traitor, someone who collaborates with the invaders of his country.

[Travis McGee]

Thank you Mike Huckabee, no wonder your Arkansas favorable ratings are single digits.

"Pretty soon, Southern white guys like me may be in the minority," Huckabee said jokingly as the crowd roared in laughter.

Huckabee promotes 'open door' policy at LULAC convention

Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

By Wesley Brown

Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK - In a impassioned speech before hundreds of influential Hispanic civil rights leaders from across the nation, Gov. Mike Huckabee told a captive audience Wednesday that America is great because it has always opened it doors up to people seeking a better way of life.

"I would hope that no matter who we are, or where we are from, that America should always be a place that opens its arms, opens it heart, opens its spirit to people who come because they want the best for their families ...," Huckabee said as the largely Hispanic audience gave him a standing ovation.

Huckabee was the keynote speaker, along with Tyson Foods Inc. Chairman and CEO John Tyson, at a noon luncheon of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which is holding its 76th annual convention in Little Rock.

About 10,000 political, community and business leaders, along with exhibitors and speakers are in Little Rock attending the convention at the Statehouse Convention Center. The convention started Monday and runs through Saturday.

Although he never actually talked about the U.S. or Arkansas immigration policy, Huckabee made it very clear where he stood on the issue. In his opening remarks, he said the nation will need to address the concerns of the Hispanic community because of its growing influence and population base.

"Pretty soon, Southern white guys like me may be in the minority," Huckabee said jokingly as the crowd roared in laughter.

He told the LULAC delegates that their presence in the state's capital city was very important because Arkansas has one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the nation. "Your gathering is so very significant for our state," Huckabee said. "We are delighted to have you."

Despite several light moments, Huckabee did not stray away from several controversial issues that made him a target of criticism during the recently ended 85th General Assembly. He said Arkansas needs to make the transition from a traditional Southern state to one that recognizes and cherishes diversity "in culture, in language and in population."

"This is an issue that is going to require extraordinary efforts on both sides of the border, particularly those coming from Mexico," Huckabee said of verifying the status of illegal aliens. "But I am confident that our government will recognize that we should accommodate people who wish to provide the best opportunities for their families (and) employers so that we can make sure our economy has the necessary work force."

During the legislation session, Huckabee criticized an immigration bill by Republican senators Jim Holt of Springdale and Denny Altes of Fort Smith as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life. Senate Bill 206, which died in the Senate, would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote and also force state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally. Holt, R-Springdale, replied later to Huckabee's comments that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.

[montag813]

while others come for legal protection or other needs.

They need the welfare check? "I'm an American!"

They commit a crime? "I'm a Mexican"

They have a child? "He's an American"

The child murders someone? "They can't execute him, he is a Mexican!"

[SmoothTalker]

We need to have squad cars parked out front.

[pulaskibush]

Arkansas Ping!

[Tennessee Nana]

Yeppers

There are more workers in that consulate than there are ICE in the area...and we are paying for them all and the building etc...

We need more ICE not more consulate workers...

Why dont they tell their Mexican citzen illegal aliens to go home to Mexico for ID etc...Why do we have to pay for a consulate here?

This all has to be illegal and against out immigration laws...aiding and abetting anyone?

[dennisw]

lol-—dittos

[Travis McGee]

Huckster is really competing hard for “Quisling of the Decade.”

He already has Lindsey Graham and McCain beat in the RINO Division.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Huckleberry Huckabee is right up there with other Southern in Name Only scalawag disgraces, like Dhimmi Jimmuh, Slick Willie, and Shamnesty Graham.

[seemoAR]

But, but, but, He is a fine man and a Judas Goat.

[gubamyster]

ping

[sinanju]

Do you by any chance know what the law is concerning our diplo relations w/Mexico as regards consulates?

Do they have the formal right to open as many consulates anywhere they please?

[Tennessee Nana]

I think a country has ONE Embassy (usually in the capital city) and then consulates throughout the country...

Mexico has one embassy and at least 43 consulates in the US..

http://www.mexonline.com/consulate.htm

The US has one embassy and less consulates in Mexico...

http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/edirectory.html