New consulate in Oklahoma City will serve 'vibrant Mexican community' in Oklahoma

About a dozen people received their Mexican passports, birth certificates and other government-issued documents Saturday morning as the new Mexican consulate was inaugurated in Oklahoma City.

Dignitaries and elected officials, both local and from Mexico, lauded the consulate's opening as a commitment to continue supporting the growing Mexican American population in the state of Oklahoma. Citizens of Mexico living in the state no longer have to make the trek to cities like Dallas; Little Rock, Arkansas; or Kansas City, Missouri, to receive consular services.

Javier Rivera, 21, was one of those receiving his Mexican passport on Saturday. He said this is the first major process he's taken on as an adult.

"With the new consulate, the process was fast," said Rivera, who lives in Oklahoma City. "Before, we have to go to Dallas and Little Rock and ... the time to to get the appointment is too hard."

Foreign representatives present Saturday included Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico's minister of foreign affairs and 2024 presidential candidate; Consul of Mexico in Oklahoma City Edurne Pineda; Ambassador of Mexico to the United States Esteban Moctezuma; and Mexican Undersecretary for North America Roberto Velasco Alvarez.

"This is not the beginning," said Ambassador Moctezuma of the new consulate, located just west of downtown at 1131 W Sheridan Ave. "This is the consequence of a vibrant Mexican community in Oklahoma and Oklahoma welcoming this community."

Consulate will 'make a huge difference' for thousands of Mexicans in Oklahoma

At one time, the Mexican American population in Oklahoma was "small but mighty," said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt.

Today, it is "simply, poderoso," or powerful, he said.

"Mexican Americans in Oklahoma City are entrepreneurs," Holt said. "They own restaurants and grocery stores and media outlets. They're teachers and priests, police officers, firefighters and elected officials. Mexican Americans are vital contributors to this dynamic city.

"And yet this community is still young. We know its potential is great, and that its strength will only grow ... It will be heartening to know that the Mexican American community finally has this place. This consulate, a place the community can point to that bridges two national identities."

Oklahoma Sen. Michael Brooks-Jimenez, who represents the south side of Oklahoma City, shared the story of how his mother's Mexican family came to Oklahoma a century ago.

His great-grandfather came to San Antonio to work on the railroads. His great-grandmother and their four children joined him after a few years, but he died shortly after. The 27-year-old widow and her children traveled in a covered wagon to Oklahoma City, where she had family.

The Jimenez family has called Oklahoma City home ever since.

It's not a unique story, said Brooks-Jimenez, who works as an immigration attorney.

"I am flattered that the Mexican government has chosen to be able to give to our town, my hometown, a Mexican consulate," he said. "As an immigration attorney, I can tell you that I've seen thousands of people who are going through the same processes and the same journeys as my family. ... This is gonna make a huge difference for thousands of people in the state of Oklahoma."

Oklahoma and Mexican values align

Pineda, consul of Mexico in Oklahoma City, said she has been "amazed to learn about the richness of (Oklahoma's) society, culture and economic activity, and the potential and determination you show to continue moving forward."

The support the state has shown of the consulate is a testament to the relevance the migrant community holds in Oklahoma, Pineda said.

"A community that works hard, shares your values and commits to working shoulder to shoulder with you to build a better Oklahoma," she said. "There is also a large potential to grow the economic trade, cultural and tourist relations between Oklahoma and Mexico. We want to be a conduit for this. We want to be a bridge that helps Oklahoma understand Mexico better, and Mexico understand Oklahoma better."

Gov. Kevin Stitt — who helped put the consulate in motion through 2021 trips to Washington, D.C., and Mexico City — said Oklahomans and Mexicans "can learn so much from each other."

"Oklahoma values are Mexican values," Stitt said. "It's hard working, entrepreneurship, family-focused, ... God-fearing."