The US State Department has launched a review that could lead to the closure of an unspecified number of Mexican consulates across the United States. The move has sparked concern among Mexican nationals living in the US, who rely on these diplomatic missions for essential services such as passport renewals, birth registrations, and legal assistance for family members affected by immigration enforcement.
Azucena Aviles, a 33-year-old mother who drove over an hour to the Mexican consulate in Los Angeles to renew her passport and obtain one for her daughter, described the consular services as invaluable. “It wouldn’t be fair if they messed with the Mexican people, especially with our support systems, which come from the Mexican consulate and which, in some way, help or protect our fellow Mexicans,” she said.
The review comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Mexico under President Donald Trump’s second term, including an immigration crackdown, trade disputes, and disagreements over human rights and national sovereignty. The State Department has offered only a broad explanation, stating that it is “constantly reviewing all aspects of American foreign relations to ensure they are in line with the President’s America First foreign policy agenda.”
Experts suggest the review may be linked to Trump’s immigration policies, as Mexicans make up the largest group of undocumented immigrants in the US, estimated at 4.3 million. Additionally, far-right theories alleging that Mexican consulates interfere in US politics and encourage migration have gained traction among Trump loyalists.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has sought to maintain diplomatic ties with the Trump administration, cracking down on cartels and cooperating on migration issues. However, she has taken a firm stance on the deaths of Mexicans in US immigration detention centres, calling conditions “incompatible with human rights standards.” Recent incidents, including the indictment of Mexican officials on drug charges and a US anti-narcotics operation that resulted in the deaths of two CIA officers, have further strained relations.
Arturo Sarukhan, a former Mexican ambassador to the US, described the consulate review as “usually a sign that a bilateral relationship is in a very, very rocky moment.” He added that US-Mexico relations are at their worst point in decades, given the current points of contention.
