Andrés Chao’s Radio Show Helps Mexicans get Fake ID’s

Andrés Chao, who is the consul at the Mexican Consulate in Little Rock, AR, extablished in 2007 at the invitation of Gov. Mike Huckabee. Tulsa, Oklahoma is in the official “jurisdiction” of this Mexican consulate, and Chao met with Mayor Kathy Taylor, Police Chief Ron Palmer, and other city officials in March, as reported by the Spanish-Language periodical, La Semana del Sur. The magazine conducted a phone interview with the Consul on March 14th, and quoted Chao as saying (Translated by Google from Spanish).

One of the projects of the Mexican Consulate is the convince local law enforcement to accept  “matricula cards,” which are an alternate ID card for Mexican citizens who are in the U.S. illegally. 

Now, Chao has a call-in radio program in Arkansas, to help Mexican citizens who are in the U.S. illegally get and use these cards, according to a report on NWANews.com:

“An open-mic radio show is helping Mexican nationals in Northwest Arkansas navigate the system of getting identification to make life easier in the United States and on return trips home to Mexico…[Chao said,] ‘This radio program is a good way to reach our community and go straight to the people.’ Many who call Una Charla Con el Consulado, or A Chat with the Consulate, ask how to obtain Mexican government-issued identification, called a Matricula Consular ID.

“The cards can be used to open bank accounts and fly on some airlines. Callers also want details on getting passports being used by some returning to Mexico, Chao said. Mexican birth certificates are also in demand for children who are U. S. citizens and have a parent who was born in Mexico, he said.

“’The child can get dual nationality to let [him] enroll in school or obtain services in Mexico,’ Chao said. “This is helpful because you never know in the future when a family may suddenly want to return. (Continue reading on NWAnews.com)”

Interestingly, the report also included this opinion from the Mexican Consular in Mississippi/Arkansas/Oklahoma:

“Chao said the consulate’s office doesn’t try to distinguish between legal and illegal Mexican nationals who seek help.

“’We don’t ask for immigration status — that is out of our hands,’ he said. ‘That is the American authorities’ jurisdiction, [whereas] we [represent] the Mexican government.’”

This is a very different tone than the one used in Oklahoma, recently.

The Oklahoman reported in May:

“Andres Chao said the U.S. and Mexican governments must work together to address the growing problem of illegal immigration in such a way that benefits both countries and their citizens.

“He dismissed the notion that migration to the United States is an attempt by the Mexican government to export its poverty, and said Mexico sorely misses the young workers that cross daily into the United States.

“‘One of our objectives is to protect and defend Mexican nationals that live in this jurisdiction,’ said Chao, who opened the Mexican consulate in Little Rock, Ark., a year ago. ‘We are concerned about the adverse circumstances our citizens are facing in the U.S. due to the failure of comprehensive immigration reform and the rise of states generating legislation.’ (continue reading on The Oklahoma)”

Also see:

• Andrés Chao Accused of Being a Spy
• Mexican “Mobile Consult” Rolls Through Tulsa This Week
• The Mexican Government Meddles in Oklahoma
• Mexican Consul Estimates Number of Mexicans Illegally Residing in Arkansas

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