Thread: Los Angeles' New Mexican Consular General

Harmony amid conflict
He sees that Mexicans in Southern California have their rights protected while abiding by U.S. Laws.
By Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
May 3, 2008
Juan Marcos Gutierrez has spent 16 years in Mexican public service, including as city attorney in Tijuana, federal legislator for Baja California and anti-corruption prosecutor in Mexico City.

But Gutierrez, 38, said his new position as the Mexican consul general in Los Angeles is by far the "greatest challenge" of his career. The size of the constituency alone -- including about 1.6 million Mexican immigrants in L.A. County -- makes the job daunting. Add to that a politically charged climate and frequent anti-illegal immigration protests and federal raids, and Gutierrez said he expects a tough tenure. Already, he has been working six days a week, often more than 12 hours a day.



In fact, Gutierrez arrived less than two weeks after about 70 Mexicans were arrested in an immigration raid at a manufacturing plant in Van Nuys. Gutierrez and his staff met with many of those who had been arrested, gave them a legal orientation and distributed more than $15,000 in one-time cash assistance.

"It wasn't that much of a surprise," he said in an interview at his office near MacArthur Park. "However, I would have liked to be around for a month or two without any heartbreaking situations."

As a representative of the Mexican government, Gutierrez walks a fine line. He protects the rights of Mexicans living in Los Angeles without getting involved in local politics. He ensures that Mexicans here have their civil and constitutional rights protected while still abiding by local, state and national laws.

For example, Gutierrez's office has met with Pedro Espinoza, the illegal Mexican immigrant and alleged gang member charged with fatally shooting a Los Angeles High School football star in March. Gutierrez said that his heart was with the family of the victim, Jamiel Shaw Jr., but that his role is also to make sure the suspect receives a fair trial.

Part of the consul general's job, as he sees it, is to promote a positive image of Mexicans and debunk what he calls myths about migrants: that they steal jobs, bring disease and don't pay taxes.

Since his arrival, he has held meetings with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Council members, county supervisors, local attorneys and immigrant rights advocates. During those meetings, Gutierrez said, he has discussed ways to work together to improve public safety, healthcare and education. And because more than 1,000 Mexicans visit the consulate every day, Gutierrez said he is in a unique position to reach a large segment of the Los Angeles population.

"Cooperation is the name of the game," he said.

Council President Eric Garcetti said Gutierrez recognizes the importance of a strong and lasting economic and political relationship between Los Angeles and Mexico.

"He couldn't be here at a more critical time for Los Angeles," Garcetti said. "The challenge to him is to contribute positively to a divisive debate and to strengthen ties between Los Angeles and Mexico when political winds blow against that."

One recent day, Gutierrez met with John Trasviña, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Gutierrez told Trasviña he was concerned about the effect on the Mexican community of stepped-up immigration enforcement and raids.

"They are not happening every day, but it feels like it," Gutierrez said. "That's the climate of fear and the atmosphere that it creates."

Trasviña said that working with the Mexican Consulate is "more important than ever."

"We have rights, and it's not just rights because of the Mexican flag, it's because of the American flag," he said. "We'd like to make sure those rights are respected and protected."

Gutierrez is also trying to reach out to Mexicans throughout the region by expanding consular duties to seven days a week and sending mobile consulates to new areas. Recently, he and his staff traveled to Santa Catalina Island to distribute consular identification cards and passports to Mexicans living there.

Gutierrez grew up in Tijuana and has a law degree from the Autonomous University of Baja California. He served as the Tijuana city attorney from 1992 to 1995 and a federal congressman from 1997 to 2000.

As a representative, he authored a law that reformed the constitution and gave more independence to cities.

At the end of his tenure, he took on a controversial job as part of a team investigating Mexico's tourism director for fraud.

One day a gunman forced his way into Gutierrez's car. Gutierrez, convinced that it was a politically motivated kidnapping and that his life was in danger, forced a car crash and escaped.

His first assignment in the United States was as consul general in Denver. During his time there, state legislators passed a host of anti-illegal immigration laws, prompting fear and frustration among Mexicans living in Colorado. Despite that, Gutierrez said he helped improve trade relations between Colorado and Mexico. He also helped facilitate the extradition of a Mexican immigrant who had been charged with killing a Denver police detective.

While in Denver, he met his second wife, a former reporter for Telemundo and Univision. The couple recently had a daughter, Gutierrez's third.

Not all of Gutierrez's work in Los Angeles is expected to be controversial. He is already working with his staff to continue health, educational and cultural programs at the consulate.

And as consul general, Gutierrez also gets to participate in an occasional fun event. One recent morning, he officiated at the wedding of two young Mexican immigrants living in Los Angeles. In front of a small group of their friends and relatives, Gutierrez declared them husband and wife, congratulated them and welcomed them to Mexico's family abroad.

Then he looked to the future: When you have children, he told the newlyweds, bring them to the consulate so they can have the best of both worlds: dual citizenship as both Americans and Mexicans.

He sees that Mexicans in Southern California have their rights protected while abiding by U.S. Laws.

There would be no illegal Mexican aliens if they abided by U.S. laws.

Juan Marcos Gutierrez has spent 16 years in Mexican public service, including as city attorney in Tijuana, federal legislator for Baja California and anti-corruption prosecutor in Mexico City.

Judging by news reports he failed at former positions.

"We have rights, and it's not just rights because of the Mexican flag, it's because of the American flag," he said. "We'd like to make sure those rights are respected and protected."

JUST WHAT RIGHTS DOES THE MEXICAN FLAG GIVE PEOPLE ON AMERICAN SOIL?

Statements like that make me sooooooo angry!

"When in Mexico the U.S. State Department reminds U.S. citizens to avoid participating in demonstrations and other activities that might be deemed political by Mexican authorities. The Mexican Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners, and such actions may result in detention and/or deportation."
U.S. State Department

Then he looked to the future: When you have children, he told the newlyweds, bring them to the consulate so they can have the best of both worlds: dual citizenship as both Americans and Mexicans.
_________________

This is another thing that really bothers me.

who gave this to them

gave them a legal orientation and distributed more than $15,000 in one-time cash assistance.

who gave this to them

gave them a legal orientation and distributed more than $15,000 in one-time cash assistance.

Can't say for sure, but it'd probably be safe to say it didn't come from Mexico. I went back to the source to see if there was more info....not that I could see. It's an interesting question. If you find answers, let us know.

This is the second big "honcho" Mexico has sent to LA. recently..the other one being in Santa Ana (home to more illegals than any other city in the US)...

These crooks are not here to pass out matricular cards...they are here to keep the illegals from going back to Mexico! TheY are Calderon's special envoys! They are "nation-building" on our soil! They are setting up "shop" on our soil!!! They are undermining our security and our sovereignty!!! Who the hell do they think they are???

Every single Mexican Consulate office is "sovereign Mexican territory", and we now have FIFTY of them! There are more Mexican officials than American officials...what's wrong with this picture??? The illegals are getting red carpet service...including MARRIAGE CEREMONIES!!! How can a Mexican Consul General legally marry illegals on our soil??? This is insanity!

MEXICO IS RUNNING L.A.!!! WAKE UP EVERYONE...WE HAVE TO ACT ON THIS ONE! THIS IS SUBVERSIVE CORRUPTION TO THE CORE....A VIOLATION OF ANTI-TRUST LAWS!

(WE DON'T NEED THIS COCKROACH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCUMBAG ILLEGAL , ESPINOSA, GETS A FAIR TRIAL FOR MURDERING JAMIEL!!!)

START CALLING FEINSTEIN AND ALL OUR REPS!!! THIS CANNOT STAND!!! BETTER YET, CALL KEVIN JAMES...HE'LL GET RIGHT ON THIS STORY!

BTW, Nicie....do you have a link to this article? Thanks!!

One recent day, Gutierrez met with John Trasviña, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Legal Defense Fund is probably the source of the $15,000.00 pay out ?

Remember John Trasvina from the Lou Dobbs show last week ?

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John Trasviña, President and General Counsel
Appointed MALDEF President and General Counsel in November 2006, Mr. Trasviña began his career at MALDEF in Washington, DC as a legislative attorney in 1985. He later worked for U.S. Senator Paul Simon as General Counsel & Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution. In 1997, President Clinton appointed Mr. Trasviña as Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices. As Special Counsel, he led the only federal government office devoted solely to immigrant workplace rights. He was the highest ranking Latino attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice. After returning to California, he taught immigration law at Stanford Law School.

A highly sought after advocate, Mr. Trasviña testified in the last Congress before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in support of extension of the Voting Rights Act and before the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee against English Only legislation. In 2006, he was named Attorney of the Year by the Hispanic National Bar Association, as well as the San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association. In 2007, Mr. Trasviña was named to Poder magazine’s “The Poderosos 100,â€

BTW, Nicie....do you have a link to this article? Thanks!!

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 6002.story

gave them a legal orientation and distributed more than $15,000 in one-time cash assistance

.
Felony. A consulate would have the right to do this if it was helping its own citizens who were legally in another country. This is also taxable income as a gift.

Recently, he and his staff traveled to Santa Catalina Island to distribute consular identification cards and passports to Mexicans living there.

If they are not stamped by an official US border officer they are not legal.

Then he looked to the future: When you have children, he told the newlyweds, bring them to the consulate so they can have the best of both worlds: dual citizenship as both Americans and Mexicans.

This ought to turn any true American's stomach...