Thread: Mexican Officials Seize Idaho Family's Vehicle

Mexican Officials Seize Idaho Family's Vehicle

Posted: Jun 7, 2012 5:19 PM
Updated: Jun 7, 2012 5:57 PM

PHARR - A vacation in the Rio Grande Valley has turned into an infinite stay, after Mexican authorities seized a family's vehicle.

Vicenta Mendez Rodriguez traveled to the Valley with her family to catch up with relatives who live here and across the border. Rodriguez Mendez drove into Reynosa and dropped off her daughter, Joanna. She was going to visit more of the family.

The family's trouble began with Mendez Rodriguez returned to pick up her daughter. She was stopped by Mexican customs agents for a random inspection.

"They searched my vehicle, asked for a title for my van... They needed to know if I stole the vehicle... I explained it's my daughter's vehicle," says Mendez Rodriguez.

She quickly called her daughter for help. The two women tell us they were confused by the situation. Mendez Rodriguez says questions about her nationality started to become the focus.

She didn't have a passport but presented her state ID. She was told that wasn't enough. Mendez Rodriguez says Mexican authorities told her they didn't believe she was American, so they seized the vehicle.

Customs agents handed her a stack of documents detailing why they took the vehicle. In the documents, officials claim Mendez Rodriguez told Mexican officials she was a Mexican citizen. That makes it illegal for her to drive a vehicle with U.S. plates into the country.

In a statement, the U.S. Consulate of Matamoros wrote, "The consulate frequently fields questions concerning vehicle seizures and inspections. It is important to point out that Mexican law prohibits Mexican citizens from operating U.S. registered vehicles in Mexico, regardless of the nationality of the actual owner. American citizens should be prepared to demonstrate proof of citizenship and ownership of vehicles when entering or driving in Mexico."

Mendez Rodriguez says she is a naturalized U.S. citizen. She tells us she lost her documents years ago but never ran into an issue like this before.

The family has now made contact with the U.S. Consulate in Mexico. At this point, there is no telling when they can get their vehicle back. Mendez Rodriguez needs to get her hands on proof that she is who she says she is or else the Mexican government will not release her vehicle.

Mexican Officials Seize Idaho Family's Vehicle | KRGV.com | CHANNEL 5 NEWS | Breaking News Breaking Stories

oh this is rich!

"In a statement, the U.S. Consulate of Matamoros wrote, "The consulate frequently fields questions concerning vehicle seizures and inspections. It is important to point out that Mexican law prohibits Mexican citizens from operating U.S. registered vehicles in Mexico, regardless of the nationality of the actual owner. American citizens should be prepared to demonstrate proof of citizenship and ownership of vehicles when entering or driving in Mexico.""

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

oh this is rich!

"In a statement, the U.S. Consulate of Matamoros wrote, "The consulate frequently fields questions concerning vehicle seizures and inspections. It is important to point out that Mexican law prohibits Mexican citizens from operating U.S. registered vehicles in Mexico, regardless of the nationality of the actual owner. American citizens should be prepared to demonstrate proof of citizenship and ownership of vehicles when entering or driving in Mexico.""

I find the irony quite thick

Now we need to check and see if she is a legal citizen of the United States as well, and if the car belongs to her or not...apparently she had no license or registration on her person or vehicle!!!!