Sunday, August 31, 2008Consul: Mexicans needed back home
Eduardo Arnal on a mission to visit every county in Colorado
Veronica Whitney
La Tribuna
Vail, CO Colorado

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Eduardo Arnal, the consul general of Mexico in Denver, visited Glenwood Springs Aug. 15 to meet with members of the city council and the police chief, Terry Wilson.

Arnal, 38, who was named to the post by Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon, arrived in Colorado in September 2007. His visit is part of a plan to tour all 63 counties in Colorado — he has visited 48 so far.

Arnal is touring the state to create a more efficient relationship between the consulate and local authorities and to meet the Mexicans living in Colorado. La Tribuna met with Arnal at the Hotel Colorado.

La Trbuna: What did you find when you arrived in Colorado last year?

Eduardo Arnal: A good a warm reception from the people and authorities, but certain contrasts in the state. There still are some leftovers of an anti-immigrant feeling in Colorado. Also, though I don’t have statistics, the Mexicans in Colorado are either leaving to go back to Mexico or are moving to other states in the country that are more friendly towards immigrants.

Although the attitude of authorities is in general pretty good, the legislation doesn’t help, it’s not friendly to the Mexicans here. There has to be an immigration reform from the federal government.

LT: What is Mexico doing to avoid the migration of its citizens?

EA: In Mexico we need to do our part —and we are doing it now— to generate better jobs and opportunities so that the Mexicans will stay there. We don’t want people to leave the country. We need them back now because Mexico’s economy has been growing very fast in the past 15 years.

Mexico is a very rich country, the problem is that the wealth is in just a few hands. According to a study conducted in Mexico, if the Mexicans abroad don’t come back, we will need to import workers by the year 2040. To avoid this, the government of Mexico is making it possible for Mexicans abroad to finish their high school degree and it has also created several programs to train people in Mexico to work in different industries. People should call us to learn more about these programs.

LT: I have received some complaints that there is a lot of bureaucracy at the consulate in Denver. A Mexican woman who lives in Glenwood Springs said about the Consulate recently: “They provide all the services that a Mexican needs, but not efficientlyâ€