[Vision2020] U.S. Approves Mexican Consulate for Boise

[Tom Hansen]

And just in time for Cinco de Mayo

>From today's (May 4, 2008) Spokesman Review -

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U.S. approves Mexican consulate for Boise 
Despite Sali objections, preparations under way
Associated Press 
May 4, 2008

BOISE – Over the objections of an Idaho congressman, the U.S. State 
Department has given the go-ahead for construction of a Mexican consulate 
in Boise, a spokesman said.

The Mexican government is looking for a site and hasn't determined how 
large the staff will be, Ricardo Alday, a Washington, D.C., spokesman for 
the Mexican Embassy told the Idaho Statesman in a story published Saturday.

Rep. Bill Sali, R-Idaho, last week asked Secretary of State Condoleezza 
Rice to delay approval for the Boise location until the U.S. government 
had addressed "the moral and constitutional duty to take into 
consideration how foreign consulates affect our fellow citizens here in 
our own country."
 
The newspaper reported that Gov. Butch Otter's office would not say 
whether he discussed plans for an Idaho consulate during his recent trade 
mission to Mexico.

Otter spokesman Jon Hanian said the subject wasn't on the itinerary, but 
the governor has said a consulate would help Idaho increase trade with 
Mexico and would benefit both governments.

Sali raised concerns that "consular cards" issued by the Mexican 
government at consulates in the U.S. could be used by illegal immigrants 
for identification to rent housing or open bank accounts.

The consulate, which requires State Department approval, would become the 
Mexican government's 49th in the United States. The State Department also 
approved the Mexican government's plans to open a consulate in Anchorage, 
Alaska, Alday said.

Last week President Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon reopened a 
consulate in New Orleans that closed in 2002, causing an estimated 30,000 
Mexican citizens in southeast Louisiana to go to Houston for diplomatic 
services.

Currently, Mexican citizens in Idaho must travel to Salt Lake City or 
Seattle, the closest Mexican consulates. Once open, the Mexican consulate 
in Boise will be the first full consular office in Idaho.

Boise is home to honorary consular officials from France and other 
countries.

Typically, a consulate's role is to protect citizens abroad, provide 
government services, strengthen relations between countries, and promote 
cultural and business ties.

Often, the government chooses places where government or business leaders 
have requested a consulate or where there is a significant need in the 
population, Alday said.

Boise officials said Friday they had not received an application for a 
Mexican consulate.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"People who ridicule others while hiding behind anonymous monikers in chat-
room forums are neither brave nor clever." 

- Latah County Sheriff Wayne Rausch (August 21,
2007)

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