Thread: New Head of U.S. Customs & BP a DUAL CITIZEN WITH MEXICO

For Lopez's biography and dual citizenship with Mexico, see "at a glance" following this article. He also is a protege of former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano.

Tucson Region
Ex-'boy mayor' of Nogales takes vital border slot

By Carmen Duarte
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 03.02.2009

The biography of Marco Antonio López, who will be named chief of staff Friday for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, reads like that of a boy wonder.

As a teen, López, who was raised in the border community of Nogales, Ariz., was following a television cameraman, learning about news. He then was off to the nation's capital, working as a page for politicians and getting an eyeful of the Washington scene.

At 21, he joined the White House staff, where he was assigned to work on advance travel preparations for Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper. He then joined Gore's 2000 presidential campaign.

That same year, the University of Arizona graduate was elected mayor of Nogales at age 22 and resigned three years later to accept an appointment as executive director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission under then-Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Earlier this year, at age 30 and four appointments later, López followed Napolitano, new secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, to the nation's capital and to his upcoming federal position.

López said in a recent interview he is ready to keep his bosses, including Napolitano, up to date on decisions, reports, meetings and dealings of senior management within the agency.

"Customs and Border Protection employs 54,000 in southern, northern and coastal borders of the United States. It oversees Border Patrol, the ports of entry, air and marine interdiction, agricultural and trade specialists," said López.

"We also deal with gathering intelligence and information to keep individuals out of the country that we don't want in.
"My job is to facilitate all the data and produce it in such a way so that the tough decisions can be made," said López, who will attend briefings and schedule travel for the commissioner to see firsthand what is going on at borders and ports.

He expects travel to be a big part of his job. "Secretary Napolitano is keen on not to forget the perspective outside of Washington," said López, explaining the importance of knowing firsthand the logistics of the borders and ports of this country and the inspection of cargo abroad before it makes its way to the United States.

Growing up in a border community, serving as mayor of Nogales and in state positions helped prepare López for his federal appointment.

"My main responsibilities as director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission were border security, renovation and development of the ports of entry, and developing state relationships with Mexico and other countries," he said.

He said the agency also deals with keeping the ports running smoothly, processing travelers efficiently and letting cargo and goods cross into the country in an efficient and safe manner — all areas he touched upon when he worked in Arizona.

"It laid a good foundation, but there is a lot more that is new to me such as the northern border, seaports and much more in air interdiction and contraband through aircraft," said López.

Currently a senior adviser, López is learning the dynamics of the various units within the agency. He is seeing staffers who are in their mid-20s in homeland security, and he no longer is considered an anomaly. "There are younger people than me, and I am not used to seeing that," laughed López.

Meanwhile, López, who moved into an apartment in Rosslyn, Va., still has his sights on achieving a political goal in Arizona.

"Before I hit 40, I want to be governor of Arizona," said López, who misses family, friends and playing golf in the sun.

Those who know López are not surprised by how quickly he has climbed.
"Marco is a hard worker and that is why he is where he is today," said his mother, Esther Meléndez López, 58, a Nogales city councilwoman who owns Picoretas Candy and Gift Shop and Frida's Bed and Breakfast. "I am proud of all my children and I taught them that they have a moral obligation to give back a piece of themselves to the community where they live," said Meléndez López, explaining her son's interest in public service.

She and her husband, Marco Antonio López, 62, a plumber who owns a general contracting business, also have two daughters.

Juan Pablo Guzmán, clerk of Superior Court for Santa Cruz County, was a student at the UA alongside López. He helped López when López was running for Nogales mayor.

Guzmán, who is blind, recalled how López inspired him and sought his support. "He gave me an opportunity and took me into consideration as a person with abilities," recalled Guzmán, who joined López's mayoral staff.

"Anything Marco touches he puts his all into it. He has a tremendous amount of energy," said Pati Urias, director of communications for the state Department of Commerce.

Napolitano met López in 2003, and "people took note because he was young, energetic and willing to be a part of change," Urias recalled.

Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at 573-4104 or cduarte@azstarnet.com.

at a glance

• Marco Antonio López was born in Nogales, Sonora, on April 7, 1978. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen March 25, 1994, in a ceremony that AFFORDED HIM DUAL CITIZENSHIP.

• At age 14 in 1992, he was an intern for KMSB-TV in Nogales.

• At 16 in 1994, he moved to Washington, D.C., to work as a page for House and Senate Democrats, before returning home and graduating from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in 1999. He majored in liberal arts and political science. He also worked for former U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe.

• At 21 in 1999, he joined the White House staff, where he was assigned to work on advance travel preparations for Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper. He then joined Gore's 2000 presidential campaign.

• At age 22 in 2000, he was elected mayor of Nogales and served from 2001 to 2003.

• At age 25 in 2003, he was appointed executive director of Arizona-Mexico Commission under then-Gov. Janet Napolitano.

• At age 26 in 2004, he was appointed Latin American policy adviser to Napolitano.

• At age 28 in 2006, he was appointed senior adviser to Napolitano.

• At age 30 in 2008, he was appointed director of the Arizona Department of Commerce under Napolitano.

• At age 30 in February 2009, he was named senior adviser to W. Ralph Basham, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Basham retired Saturday, and López is set to be the chief of staff for the acting commissioner on Friday under Napolitano, who is the new secretary of homeland security.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/282380.php
(Registration required)

What kind of change CIR?

MEXICAN DUAL NATIONALITY PROGRAM
PRESERVATION OF MEXICAN NATIONALITY
(Dual Citizenship)

NATIONALITY LAW EXTENDED INDEFINITELY

* It will strengthen links among Mexicans at home and abroad.

* It will allow Mexicans to keep their nationality after adopting another one from a foreign country.

* It will give individuals who may have lost their Mexican nationality, an opportunity to recover it.

The Nationality law which allows the preservation of Mexican nationality, regardless of the acquisition of another nationality or citizenship, is effective as of march 20th, 1998.

This law, which is based upon a constitutional reform approved unanimously by the Mexican Congress on December 1996, will allow Mexicans who live abroad and decide to adopt a foreign nationality or citizenship, to keep their Mexican nationality. It will also allow those individuals who were originally Mexicans and are now citizens of another country, to regain Mexican nationality.

1.- Background

The Mexican provisions regarding nationality, in effect over the last decades, stated that any Mexican who obtained another nationality would lose their Mexican nationality.

This has implied that Mexicans living abroad have had a face a dilemma regarding naturalization: on the one hand, if they became naturalized in their host countries in order to improve their migratory and legal status, they lost their Mexican nationality and all of their rights. On the other hand, if they did not obtain another nationality so as to retain the Mexican one, they were unable to fully exercise their rights in their host country.

In order to find a solution to this matter, on December 10, 1996, the Mexican Congress approved President Ernesto Zedillo's initiative regarding Articles 30, 32 and 37 of the Constitution which allows Mexicans to preserve their nationality, regardless of acquisition of another nationality or citizenship.

These reforms will also allow those Mexicans who are already citizens of another country to regain Mexican nationality.
2.- Who may benefit from this amendment

Mexicans living abroad, and willing to be naturalized as citizens of their host country, will be able to obtain that nationality while preserving the Mexican one.

Mexicans who have already acquired another nationality will be able to regain the Mexican one. Children of Mexicans at birth or naturalized will be able to acquire Mexican nationality.

For those Mexicans who have lost their nationality, there will be a period of five years, beginning the day of the entry into force of the amendment, in which they may recover it. The procedure of the followed is ready to be implemented as of March 20, 1998 and its simplicity and efficacy are ensured.
3.- Main benefits

The constitutional reforms and the new law provide the necessary legal framework to the principle of "Non-forfeit of Mexican Nationality", a long awaited demand be Mexicans living abroad. These Mexicans communities have long wished to preserve the rights the Mexican Constitution grants to its nationals and to maintain cultural and family ties with Mexico.

Mexicans living abroad will be free to travel and live in Mexico whenever they wish to do so, without having to comply with complicated formalities or apply for permits required for foreigners.

They will be able to buy land without any of the restrictions applied for foreigners. Likewise, none of the restrictions regarding inheritance and employment, concerning foreigners, can be applied.

Mexicans who regain nationality will continue to pay taxes in the country where they reside and earn income.

Mexicans living abroad will not be required to serve in the Mexican armed forces. They will only be required to register at the age of 18, either in Mexico or at its consulates or embassies.
4.- Implications on Voting Rights

Unlike other countries, Mexican legislation establishes a distinction between nationality and citizenship. Nationality refers to how people feel they belong to their country. Nationality is based on one's place of birth and the origins on one's parents. Citizenship implies nationality, as well as, the exercising of political rights which are acquired upon reaching legal age and residence among other requisites. The constitutional reform only modifies provisions related to nationality.

This amendment is not related in any way with the right to vote. So far, no Mexican living abroad is able to vote in any election held in Mexican territory.

Voting is related with citizenship. Thus, the possibility of eventually voting abroad is being separately analyzed and, in any case, would be regulated by The Federal Code of Electoral Institutions and Procedures. Thus, the nationality constitutional amendment and law do not affect voting matters.

DECLARATION OF MEXICAN NATIONALITY
The Mexican Government is granting the opportunity to people of Mexican decent who are naturalized citizens or citizen by birth of another country, to recover their Mexican Nationality.

To obtain the Declaration of Mexican Nationality, the interested party must meet the following:

REQUIREMENTS

Be at least 18 years of age and of sound mind.
Complete the application at the Mexican Consulate.
Present the following documents in original and two photocopies:

If the person was born in United States:
A Certified copy of the Birth Certificate, apostilled by the Secretary of State of the issuing authority.
Original or certified copies of the Mexican father or mother's birth certificate.

If the person was born in Mexico
Original or certified copy of the birth certificate
Married women need to present the marriage certificate
Document that proves the U.S. citizenship (i.e. passport or Certificate of Naturalization).
Official picture ID (i.e. Driver's license, passport, California ID, etc.)
Two-passport size photos.

This is a toll free process; the Mexican Consulate is the only autorizated institution to complete it. Upon receiving the Declaration of Mexican Nationality, a $14.00 fee will be assessed.

http://www.aztlan.net/dualcit.htm

[Notice that the requirements for dual citizenship seem more stringent for those born in Mexico than for those born in the United States.]

So this guy has held 6 different jobs in the last nine years. He sure seems to be climbing that career ladder rather quickly! Has he even held any of these positions long enough to do anything of value?

Peter Principle, in today's world government Employees tends to rise to their own Level of incompetence, that is certainly true of the new administration.