The Mexican Consulate in Indianapolis serves about 400,000 Mexican nationals and Latinos in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio across 241 counties.
The new Mexican Head Consul who works for the Mexican government inside the U.S., visited the tri-state herself for the first time on Friday.
Leticia Maki Teramoto met with local dignitaries and community leaders at the Welborn Foundation Community Room Friday afternoon. While “new,” she was actually installed in summer of 2022 as the first female Head Consul, in an office celebrating 20 years in operation.
“Traditionally, the services of a consulate are directed to the Mexican community,” she said, addressing the crowd at the Friday meeting. “Documentation, (we) issue birth certificates, death certificates, we can marry to Mexican nationals. We help with visa procedures for foreigners who need to go to Mexico for studying or working, and we also have a powers of attorney. “
Teramoto is in town with the mobile consulate which offers many of the same services conveniently in-person. They’ll be in the tri-state this weekend.
Those with a properly-filled application with the right documents can get a passport in under two hours.
She said the Mexican consulate is the only one in Indiana or Kentucky. There is another Mexican Consulate in Chicago, with which she plans to do a joint mobile operation soon.
“We are also promoting relations between Mexico and Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky,” she said. “This is during 2023, we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Mexico and the US.”
She said they can also be of service to Spanish speakers, not just Mexicans.
“Many of the information we provide because it's in Spanish, we know will benefit Spanish speaking communities other than the Mexican,” she said.
For example she’s working with the National Weather Service to also provide important weather updates in Spanish.
Included in the visit at the Welborn Communty Room, were highlights from the Latino Needs Assessment presented by Abraham Brown, director of the Evansville Centro Latino.
Overall, the municipal support seems to be growing along with the Latino population, which Teramoto appreciates — especially the growing numbers of Latino school students and business owners. “That's very encouraging, that's promising information,” she said.
Henderson, Kentucky Mayor Brad Staton, and Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke spoke at the event, reiterating support and a welcoming attitude for the Latino population.
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