Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena and the United States Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, inaugurated the new offices of the U.S. Consulate in Mérida. – “We are proud to confirm that Yucatán continues to be a strategic point for the bilateral relationship, and this consulate is a testament to the importance that our region has for the United States”: Joaquín Díaz Mena.
Mérida, Yucatán, (December 5, 2024).- The historic relationship based on mutual respect, cooperation, and the shared desire for prosperity between Yucatán and the United States is strengthened with the inauguration of the new building of the U.S. Consulate General, led by Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena and the United States Ambassador to Mexico, Kenneth Lee Salazar (Ken Salazar).
In the new building, located in the north of the city, where immigration issues, visas, and other documents will be handled, the Governor stressed that the United States Consulate General in Merida has been for decades a bridge that connects our people, facilitating cultural, economic and social exchange.
“Today, with the opening of this new consulate, we take another step towards strengthening these ties, opening new opportunities for the growth and development of our region. We are proud to know that Yucatan continues to be a strategic point for the bilateral relationship, and this consulate is a testament to the importance that our region has for the United States,” he emphasized.
Before Justen Thomas, Consul General of the United States in Merida, the state Executive reiterated that “in Yucatan, we are committed to sustainable development, security, education and improving the quality of life of families, whose objectives are shared with the Government of the United States.”
In the presence of the Governor of Campeche, Layda Sansores San Román; The Secretary of Government of Quintana Roo, María Cristina Torres, who attended on behalf of Governor Mara Lezama, and the Mayor of Mérida, Cecilia Patrón Laviada, Díaz Mena highlighted the joint projects between both nations. In particular, she highlighted initiatives in telemedicine, training of young entrepreneurs, and support to promote the security and well-being of our communities, actions that reflect the spirit of collaboration that unites us.
In this sense, she said that “the strengthening of this relationship will allow us to continue with programs such as ‘Cabecitas Blancas’, which facilitates the reunification of Yucatecan families with their loved ones in the United States, uniting hearts and strengthening ties between our communities.”
“This new consulate will also be a space of opportunities for our people. It will be a place where Yucatecans will be able to access consular services more efficiently, facilitating the procedures for those who wish to visit their relatives, study, or explore opportunities in the United States,” she said.
Recognizing the exemplary security of Yucatan, Ambassador Ken Salazar highlighted the importance of promoting the south-southeast, generating prosperity for its inhabitants, and preserving the Mayan jungle.
The new space, built with an investment of 200 million dollars on a surface of 6 thousand square meters and a land of 3 hectares, has offices, public services, covered parking, and 12 windows to serve Mexican and American citizens.
The consulate, which will begin operations in the spring of 2025, also reflects the local culture and environment, from the artistic installations to the design of the building itself, inspired by Mayan archaeological sites.
The Governor was accompanied by the heads of the Secretariats of Economic Development and Labor, Emilio Barrera Novelo; of Tourism Development, Darío Flota Castro; General of Government, Omar Pérez Avilés, as well as the president of the Business Coordinating Council, Alejandro Gómory Martínez.
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