Around 400 Mexican consulate staff in the U.S. face visa expiry and job loss

Roughly 400 staff members across 53 Mexican consulates in the United States are on the brink of dismissal because their A-2 diplomatic visas, which permit them to perform official duties, are set to expire. The problem traces back to a 2016 change by the Obama administration that limited these visas to five years and eliminated automatic renewal, forcing Mexico to negotiate temporary extensions. During the López Obrador administration, extensions were secured, but the workforce has shrunk from about 1,700 to the current 400.

Rosa Elvira, who has worked four decades at the Los Angeles consulate, will lose her job on August 21 and faces the prospect of becoming undocumented when her permit runs out next summer. Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco Álvarez described the situation as complex and said talks with Washington continue, while President Claudia Sheinbaum’s press conference highlighted efforts to keep workers in the U.S. for as long as possible. The issue coincides with heightened U.S. scrutiny of Mexican diplomatic missions, which could lead to consulate closures, and some former employees have already opted to stay in the country without legal status.