DALLAS - The new consul general at the Mexican Consulate in Dallas got an unwelcome surprise on his first day on the job.
At a reception with Latino leaders on November 16, Eladio Vargas, a Dallas member of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IME), gave Juan Carlos Cue Vega a mouse trap with a wrinkled dollar bill.
“I think it’s absolutely disrespectful,” said Claudia Herrmann, president of Casa Ciudad de Mexico, which is one of the largest home-state organizations in the region. “It’s a lack of integrity, a lack of education [and] a lack of respect.”
Herrmann was at the event.
The consulate did not want to discuss the incident with News 8, but confirmed the incident.
Manuel Rodela, another Dallas member of the IME, said he was disappointed in Vargas’ actions, which he said do not represent the organization.
The consulate’s new chief is facing many challenges. Cue Vega is taking over at a time when the consular office is still dealing with a passport scam investigation and allegations of corruption.
In a press conference last week, Cue Vega said his goal is to improve the consulate’s relationship with the community.
“We are already working on changing the internal procedures here, and of course to talk with you and make [Mexican immigrants] understand what happened in the past has not affected the Mexican national that comes to request our services,” he said.
The consulate has already implemented a new policy. It will no longer take any cash for services.
Many immigrants and community leaders are looking for change at the consulate, but some including Herrmann, believe Vargas could have delivered his message at another time and in a different manner.
News 8 attempted to contact Vargas for comment. As of 10 p.m., he had yet to respond.
E-mail mdiaz@wfaa.com
