world
State Department Reviews All 53 Mexican Consulates in the United States
The State Department has begun a review of all Mexican consulates operating in the United States, a U.S. official told CBS News. The review follows the deaths of two American CIA officers in a counter-narcotics operation in northern Mexico last month and comes amid rising bilateral tensions over security cooperation and cartel violence.
May 8, 4:15 PM·2m read2 sources
riotimesonline.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
The State Department is initiating a review of all 53 Mexican consulates operating in the United States, a U.S. official told CBS News on Thursday. The review could lead Secretary of State Marco Rubio to consider ordering the closure of some diplomatic offices.
The review comes as bilateral tensions build over security cooperation and cartel violence. It follows the deaths of two American CIA officers after a counter-narcotics operation in northern Mexico last month. A State Department official said the review is part of a broader effort to align U.S. foreign policy with the Trump administration's priorities.
" Mexico maintains the largest foreign consular network in the United States. The offices provide documentation and legal aid to millions of Mexican citizens living across the country and are concentrated in border states and cities with large Mexican American populations, including California, Texas and Arizona.
In recent years, U.S. consulate closures have usually reflected rising tensions with rival countries rather than routine diplomatic changes. In 2020 the Trump administration ordered China's consulate in Houston to close, citing concerns over espionage and intellectual property theft.
In 2017 the U.S. ordered Russia to close its consulate in San Francisco along with diplomatic facilities in Washington and New York.
Asked about the State Department's plan to review consulates, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters she had no information on it. " Tensions between the U.S. and Mexico spiked last month following the deaths of two American officials, later confirmed by CBS News to have been working for the CIA.
