AZMEX POLICY 11-2-18

AZMEX POLICY 11 FEB 2018


Mexican consulate, state court officials discuss collaboration
By Terri Jo Neff /For the Herald/Review Feb 9, 2018

http://www.douglasdispatch.com/news/mexican-consulate-state-court-officials-discuss-collaboration/article_bc25250c-0dbe-11e8-a426-9781896e45cf.html

Mexican consulate, state court officials discuss collaboration
Cochise County District 1 Supervisor Ann English interacts with Counsul of Mexico member Jorge Ernesto Espejel Montes and Director General of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Relations Jacob Prado (right) at Thursday's visit to Douglas.
HERALD/REVIEW STAFF PHOTO BY MARK LEVY

Mexican consulate, state court officials discuss collaboration
Director General of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Relations Jacob Prado addresses the Arizona Association of Court Administrators during their annual meeting in Douglas.
HERALD/REVIEW STAFF PHOTO BY MARK LEVY


DOUGLAS – A Feb. 1 discussion between two Mexican consulate officials and several Arizona court administrators addressed ways to collaborate in safeguarding the rights of Mexican nationals who appear in Cochise County Superior Court and other state courts.

Jacob Prado Gonzalez and Jorge Ernesto Espejel Montes spoke with members of the Arizona Association of Superior Court Administrators who were in Douglas for a quarterly meeting.

Prado is director general of the Consular Protection for Mexicans Abroad which is part of Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while Espejel is consul for the Consulate of Mexico in Douglas.

"One of the primary functions of the Mexican State is to guarantee the integrity of the people under its territory and to protect its nationals wherever they may be," Prado explained to the group.

Assistance from the Consular Protection for Mexicans Abroad is available for nationals, organizations, and corporations who request help with a variety of issues that arise while they are in the U.S.

Last year, Consular Protection received nearly 190,000 requests for assistance, said Prado. Of that, more than 38,000 were handled by the four consulates in Arizona within the consulates in Douglas, Nogales, Tucson and Phoenix.

Consular Protection assistance often involves the U.S. legal system, whether it be immigration, criminal, civil, family, or labor matters. Consulate personnel have contact with court staff across the U.S. on a daily basis, said Prado.

Such involvement, he explained, is mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the Vienna Convention, and various bilateral treaties, and that Americans involved with the Mexican court system are provided the same assistance from U.S. officials.

Collaboration

The discussion included the need to ensure the courts provide "culturally competent" legal representation and that competent interpreters are used so that parties understand what is taking place in court.

"We must provide language interpretation but sometimes we have difficulty arranging for interpreters of indigenous languages," said Bob James of the Maricopa County Superior Court.

Prado acknowledged that complications may arise with those Mexicans who speak native dialects instead of Spanish.

"As a result of the meeting, the Consul's office agreed to provide us assistance in finding qualified interpreters," said Eric Silverberg, administrator of the Cochise County Superior Court who coordinated the discussion.

The discussion also touched on ways to collaborate when state court officials need help locating an American child's relatives who live in Mexico and how to coordinate placement of a child with a family member in Mexico.

"Many Arizona families have family members who live on both sides of the border," said Silverberg, "The consular officials offered to provide documents and information and facilitate access to other Mexican authorities that would help resolve cases that cross the border."

Consulate notification

Prado also provided information on U.S. State Department rules related to the arrest or detention of a foreign national.


"If a foreign national is arrested, law enforcement must inform them that they may have their consular officer notified of the arrest or detention," Prado said, pointing out that if notification is requested, it is to occur within 24 to 72 hours of the initial arrest. "Law enforcement should document the response and the notification in the event that there are any questions later."

Consular Protection is also involved when a Mexican national is ordered deported from the U.S.

"We have local reparation arrangements in place between our consulates and U.S. officials," Prado said. "These ensure individuals are deported to areas where the Mexican government can provide assistance."

END