Illegal Immigrant Radio and Acambaro crooks

An open-mic radio show is helping Mexican nationals in Northwest Arkansas navigate the system of getting identification to make life easier in the United States and on return trips home to Mexico. Every Friday, Mexican Consulate Andres Chao of Little Rock and members of his staff answer caller questions from 5-6 p. m. on “La Zeta” radio, KSECFM 95. 7, in Springdale. The Spanish-language show also airs in the Fort Smith area on KREU-FM 92. 3, “La raza.” (The Race)
“The consulate’s office is three hours away from Northwest Arkansas, yet we have the bigger population of Mexican nationals there,” Chao said. “This radio program is a good way to reach our community and go straight to the people.” Many who call Una Charla Con el Consulado, or A Chat with the Consulate, ask how to obtain Mexican government-issued identification, called a Matricula Consular ID. The cards can be used to open bank accounts and fly on some airlines. Callers also want details on getting passports being used by some returning to Mexico, Chao said. Mexican birth certificates are also in demand for children who are U. S. citizens and have a parent who was born in Mexico, he said. “The child can get dual nationality to let [him ] enroll in school or obtain services in Mexico,” Chao said. “This is helpful because you never know in the future when a family may suddenly want to return.” Callers on the Aug. 8 show asked Chao and documentation affairs counsel Alejandro Leon Vargas about the forthcoming mobile consulate station that was planned for Saturday at the Springdale Civic Center (we need to videotape this event). Some callers were frustrated that 350 appointments available for the visit were full already. Chao was calm in saying that slots could open if those with appointments don’t show up with the proper documentation. He stressed that an original birth certificate, proof of address and photographic identification are needed for the Matricula ID. The cards cost about $ 30. Later, he said that the consulate’s office, which opened in April 2007, is considering adding staff to serve more people. The office serves the Mexican population in Arkansas, west Tennessee and east Oklahoma. Radio station owner Eddie Vega said knowing ahead of time what is needed to get consulate identification saves people an unnecessary drive to Little Rock. “The program lets the consulate address many different people who all have the same questions,” Vega said. “It’s usually call after call — more than we can handle in one hour.”
The radio show grew from an on-the-air interview Chao gave “La Zeta” in March. That conversation came in the days after Andriana Torres-Flores, a Springdale woman, was left in a Washington County Circuit Court jail cell for four days without food or water. Disc jockey “Piba” talked with Chao about the controversy and the reaction many Hispanics had. Chao visited Torres-Flores in Springdale and met with county officials, who assured him such a mistake wouldn’t be made again. “He told the listeners that it doesn’t matter if someone is [a ] legal or illegal [resident ] — that this was inhumane treatment,” said Piba, whose name is Silvana Pagliuca. “Listeners started calling and saying, ‘Well if he can help her situation, then maybe he can help me. ’” She said some callers have questions for the consulate’s legal affairs and protection division. “They want to know their legal options if they are facing deportation, or who can tell them the best thing to do if they are arrested or detained by immigration authorities,” she said. Chao said the consulate’s office doesn’t try to distinguish between legal and illegal Mexican nationals who seek help. “We don’t ask for immigration status — that is out of our hands,” he said. “That is the American authorities’ jurisdiction (then why do you always sue the US Government?), [whereas ] we [represent ] the Mexican government (and all it's corruption).”

Acambaro crooks not paying sales taxes Americans pay:
www.nwaonline.net/articles/acambaro.txt