Mexican Consulate

Living in Miami, FL, we have listened for decades as immigrating people complained about the difficulties of legally entering the USA, and about the demeaning way in which many felt they were being treated. We dismissed these reports - they didn't apply to us, US citizens! For the last couple of years we have been gradually relocating our residence to Mazatlan, Mexico: we purchased property, built a large home and dock, hooked up utilities, hired services, etc. We have had relationships with officials at several Mexican border crossings (Laredo, Columbia Crossing, Nogales), at more than one immigration office, and revenue collecting agencies. Without a doubt, and beyond comparison, the personnel at the Coral Gables, FL, Mexican consulate are the most inconsiderate, rude, demeaning, inefficient, and dishonest people we have ever encountered. Their behavior does not reflect on any of the personnel in Mexico itself; people who are absolutely honest, well-intentioned, courteous, helpful, and understanding. Una senora in Gables claimed to be the "ambassador" at a time when we knew the ambassador was a senor! We encountered delays, many unnecessary return trips, hostile attitudes, and were given much misinformation. But why should we, Americans attempting to emigrate to Mexico, have expected anything else. We had been more than duly warned by Latino and Mexican expatriates of their experiences. And we simply got what they got, but in reverse. My advice: do as many of your negotiations as possible with officials in Mexico. They will be more courteous, more efficient, more helpful, and more knowledgeable than any person you could possibly meet in Coral Gables. We now live in Mazatlan; but that never would have materialized if we had to depend solely on the Mexican consulate in Coral Gables, Florida.

John O. Brown, Jr., M. D.

March, 2008