“We are here to listen, help, and improve. The consulate is your home.”
Interview with Consul Patricia Cortés

Por

Daniel Benet

| Alejandra Icela Martínez Rodríguez

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Publicado: 27/11/2024 · 12:25 p.m. MX | Actualizado: 27/11/2024 · 12:25 p.m. MX

Behind all the lights, the blaring noises, and the slot machines running at full throttle, amidst the desert and vast skies, the city of Las Vegas rises. It becomes clear that it is the hands of Mexican men and women that have built and sustained it.

In an exclusive interview for Heraldo USA, Consul Patricia Cortés welcomed us with kindness, a big smile, and wearing a beautiful Oaxacan huipil.

Discovering Las Vegas through the eyes of Consul Patricia Cortés, who has been leading the General Consulate of Mexico here for several months and boasts an extensive career in the Mexican Foreign Service, offers insight into some important figures and the relevance of the Mexican community in the state of Nevada. Here, almost 1 million people are of Mexican descent, including approximately 220,000 born in Mexico. The consulate’s jurisdiction and responsibilities extend across all counties in the state.

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Like in all Mexican representations abroad, the documentation department is the most active at this consulate. Every day, around 160 people come in for passport appointments, consular IDs, voter ID requests from the National Electoral Institute of Mexico (INE), birth certificates, and more. The issuing of passports and consular IDs is particularly frequent. Due to high demand, an additional window was opened, increasing appointment capacity by about 20%. Elderly individuals can attend without an appointment, as well as those in an emergency.

Consul Cortés describes the life of the community in Las Vegas as “very intense, after all, this is the entertainment capital of the world.”

This means that the hotel and restaurant industries are the backbone of the city’s economy. Therefore, most people of Mexican origin work in the service sector or related fields. However, they can also be found in construction, sales, or running their own businesses, as well as significantly involved in other companies. In different areas throughout the state, such as northern Nevada, the Mexican American community is also engaged in agriculture. This leads us to reckon that Mexicans are everywhere, participating in various activities, contributing to the composition of a broad and diverse community.

Patricia Cortés defines the people clearly: “The community is very brave and very generous.”

This is reflected in a significant portion of the Mexican American population being part of many organizations contributing to society, both as leaders and volunteers. All of this has enabled the formation of a support network for the Mexican community. Partnerships have been established with other organizations and individuals to assist in immigration matters, administrative law, criminal law, and other legal needs. The Legal Assistance Program (PALE) includes Hispanic lawyers who offer their professional services to those in need. However, she acknowledges that most of their work is done with aspects of building community. As such, the consular work goes beyond providing documentation services, supporting the professional and personal development of Mexican nationals and people of Mexican descent.

Consul Patricia recognizes there is a challenge is ensuring people know about all the support, resources, and programs the consulate offers, making diffusion, both in Spanish and English, crucial so that people are better informed and able to access them.

Cortés also acknowledges that there is a relationship of trust with the local authorities and the police, who are not looking to go after people in relation with their immigration status. This has allowed those who come to the consulate to feel safe, while simultaneously being informed about their rights. Unfortunately, as in other places, there are serious problems to attend to, such as cases of domestic violence, primarily involving female victims. They have also partnered with special organizations that can provide support on these issues.

Political participation within the community has increased, says Patricia. The consulate, in coordination with the INE, facilitated the credentialing process so that people had the documentation required to vote in the recent Mexican electoral process.

“I am very proud when people come up to me and say how great it is to have a woman president, and I am equally pleased that there is also a female consul,” she comments with a big smile.

The involvement of the Mexican community also extends to United States politics, as there are already female Mexican community leaders in office, such as Councilwoman Olivia Díaz at Las Vegas City Hall.

“The community is very proud of that, and this state is unique in that regard,” the consul shares with us.

Additionally, the American population is increasingly recognizing the value and importance of the Latino vote in the United States. In Nevada in particular, considered a swing state, where presidential election results can be determined, it is essential for the community to stay informed and carefully consider whom they will vote for. The consulate is also a place where meetings with allies are organized “so that those who can vote, do vote,” she emphasizes.

Consul Patricia Cortés underscores that the doors of the consulate are open to all Mexicans. In addition to the areas of documentation, protection, community services, and entrepreneurship, the consulate also serves as a hub for cultural activities and celebrations. For example, gastronomic events where the community can connect with its roots and anyone interested can learn about Mexican cuisine, which is catalogued as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

As you are walking down The Strip, surrounded by live Sinaloan banda music, or enjoying a meal at a restaurant in a different part of town, the city’s Mexican heritage and cultural identity become evident. This Mexican American community is thriving and hopefully will do so for a very long time.

“We are pleased and proud to see how women are the driving force of the economy, lifting not only the well-being of their families but also their communities.”

“The community realizes how important it is to vote, they need to make their voices heard, and on the other hand be aware of the relevance of the Hispanic vote.”

“We want them to feel safe at the consulate, to come, and trust us; if they need our help, we won’t ask about their immigration status. We can help them with whatever they need.”

• Patricia Cortés Guadarrama is a career diplomat with more than 25 years of experience.
• She holds a degree in International Business by the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, a Master’s in Diplomatic Studies by the Instituto Matias Romero (Diplomatic Academy of Mexico), a Diploma on International Trade Negotiations at Colegio de México, Diploma on US and Mexican Political Institutions at UC San Diego, UNITAR Fellowship Programme in Peacemaking and Preventive Diplomacy (United Nations).
• In 1998, she joined the Mexican Foreign Service. Director of Health and Sports in the Institute of Mexicans Abroad; Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of department in the General Directorate of International Economic Negotiations.
• In 2002, she was assigned to the Embassy of Mexico to the Netherlands, where she oversaw economic affairs, cooperation, multilateral affairs and cultural affairs.
• She was also deputy representative of Mexico to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the Common Fund for Commodities, both organizations in the UN System.
• From 2008 to 2012, she was posted to the Embassy of Mexico in Spain as Head of Economic Department.
• She was deputy representative of Mexico to the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the SEGIB (Iberoamerican General Secretariat) with seat in Madrid.
• In 2017, she was appointed Deputy Consul at the Consulate of Mexico in Salt Lake City, Utah.
• In 2024, she was appointed Consul of Mexico in Las Vegas.

Daniel Benet