They come from different parts of Latin America. They bring with them their customs, their cultures and their flags. Each one has its own idiosyncrasies. But once they arrive in the United States, they realize that they are all in the same boat. They are all immigrants with the same goals who often face the same obstacles while in search of a better life.

Fortunately, their governments have taken notice. In New York, consular representatives from at least nine countries in Latin America decided to unite their efforts in an attempt to assist their citizens living in this country. Ambassador Rosa Maria Merida de Mora, the consul general of Guatemala, told me the invitation to consolidate these issues came from Mexico’s consul general in New York, Ruben Beltran.

The Mexican Consulate in New York has good reason to move in this direction. It is the third-largest Latin community, after Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, and the fastest-growing. The Guatemalan consul didn’t think twice about this novel approach. Under her jurisdiction, which covers four states, she serves more than 300,000 Guatemalans.

Their first joint appearance took place at a consular fair in Harrison, N.J., where representatives from Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay gathered to inform and provide services to their citizens.

The traveling consulate that moves from town to town is the most important assistance to Guatemalans living in her region, said Ambassador Merida. “They are people who want to work, be with their families, be able to send their children to schools and universities, and be able to have the available services to them in this country,” added Merida.

But the efforts for providing consular services go much further than assisting foreign citizens in the U.S. Foreign governments realize that immigrants living here help their families and friends in their countries of origin. In Guatemala alone, 1.5 million people receive financial assistance from relatives in the U.S. This represents about 8 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

In fact, remittances from the U.S. are the main source of funds to alleviate poverty in Central America. Just last year, the region received $12 billion from immigrants living in the United States. Mexico is first and foremost on the receiving end in Latin America, claiming some $24 billion in remittances last year. But even these staggering numbers are cause for concern, as money being sent home is now diminishing due to the economic situation in the United States and the anti-immigrant wave that may force many out of work.

Perhaps this is why one of the main objectives of the new coalition of Latin American consulates is to meet with U.S. immigration authorities and stress the importance of consular representation for those who are detained without legal documents. As foreign representatives, it may be difficult, as they don’t want to appear to be meddling in the politics of the host government.

“We want to work together,” Ambassador Merida told me, “to ensure that all international treaties are respected and that rights are provided for our citizens.”

Out of respect, out of pride or perhaps for the survival of their own economies, these consulates have made a move that sends an important message to the United States: Immigrants may be foreigners and far from their countries, but they are certainly not alone.

(Maria Elena Salinas is the author of “I AM MY FATHER’S DAUGHTER: LIVING A LIFE WITHOUT SECRETS.” Reach her at www.mariaesalinas.com)

Back to top