In The Community
Here are 3 reasons why some are now asking themselves if dual citizenship in Mexico is the way to go, and how to go about doing it.
Abortion isn’t Criminalized
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Mexico made headlines when the Mexican Supreme Court declared it was unconstitutional to punish abortion, throughout the entire country. As of September 7, 2021, abortion was no longer a crime in Mexico, although its legalization varied by state. Mexico made headlines yet again on September 6, 2023 when the Mexican Supreme Court declared all laws prohibiting abortion unconstitutional and took the additional step of removing abortion from the federal penal code.
This is in stark contrast to the U.S., where states have been slowly but effectively taking away access to abortions and reproductive healthcare one draconian law at a time even before the fall of Roe v Wade in 2022. If you’re ever in need of abortion healthcare, Mexico is now a refuge for women.
Mexico’s Supreme Court ruling is a triumph for women and activists who joined the Latin American reproductive rights movement, the Marea Verde, which has successfully been gaining access to abortion and an expanded feminist rights agenda throughout Latin American countries.
Animals are Safe and your Products are too
black and white short coated dog with orange collarPhoto by benjamin lehman on UnsplashFor many years, various industries killed and tortured animals for the sake of beauty cosmetics and products, but no more. Mexico’s Senate passed a federal bill in 2021 that bans animal testing for cosmetics. This law also banned importing cosmetics tested on animals from other countries. Mexico is now the first North American country to prohibit cosmetic animal testing.
But Mexico had already been passing animal welfare legislation for years. In 2017, the Mexican government passed a federal ban on dogfighting and as of 2022, there's only one state, the state of Chiapas, that has yet to criminalize the mistreatment of animals, including dog fighting, in its local criminal code.
Byeeeeee colonialist Christopher Colombus!
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So what’s the Citizenship Process?
If you don’t want to give up your U.S. nationality to become a citizen, then apply for dual citizenship with Mexico. Dual citizenship allows a person to be a citizen of two countries at the same time. It allows you to work, attend school, vote, have a Mexican passport, own property, and other benefits that are country-specific. On May 18, 2021, the Human Rights Bill, allowed people who are of Mexican descent but born in the U.S. the ability to officially be a Mexican national without having to be born in Mexico.
In Mexico, the Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) begins the citizenship process. First, you must verify that you meet all requirements for Mexican citizenship. Whether that be residency requirements or claiming nationality through either of your parents. The second step is completing the application provided and submitting any needed paperwork. Mexico’s consulate requires your U.S. birth certificate, your parents’ Mexican birth certificates, and proof of identification. All the documents must be consistent and have no errors that need to be corrected. This will all show your lineage to Mexico and why Mexican citizenship should be granted.
Once the fee is paid, the application will be processed. If approved, the applicant is granted dual citizenship. The next step, if your citizenship is approved, is to now apply for a Mexican passport.
There is no set time for how long the process can take, but it is estimated to take months.
As of 2019, nearly 10.9 million Mexican-Americans live in the U.S and the Human Rights Bill that was passed is opening doors to the possibility of not only living bi-culturally but also bi-nationally. No more having to choose a culture or even choose countries – you can have them both, and with all the recent progressive change occurring in Mexico, why not?
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The day of the equal pay day indicates when the particular group of women “catch up” to white men’s wages from the year before. In 2023, the day all women, including white women, caught up to 2022 wages is March 14. It was March 15th in 2022, and March 24 in 2021.
Not much to write home about in terms of progress.
The reality is that the wage gap remains shockingly wide for many women, particularly Latinas. This systemic injustice undermines the value of women's work and perpetuates gender inequality and economic insecurity. In 2020, Latinas earned just 57 cents to the dollar earned by white men, meaning they would have to work until the age of 90 to earn the same amount that a white man earned by age 60.
The gap worsened to 49 cents in 2021 due to the oversized impact the pandemic had on women in the workforce. It recovered slightly in 2022 to 54 cents, which still meant that Latinas had to work an additional 11 months to earn what a white man earned in a year.
In 2023, the gap saw another slight increase to 57 cents for year-round full-time workers, and the day to raise awareness about the problem lands on October 5, 2023. Latinas consistently remain some of the most underpaid women year after year.
Source: Race and the Pay GapSource: Race and the Pay Gap
According to the Equal Pay Calendar, the data highlights the considerable wage disparities faced by Latinas and women of color, underscoring the disproportionate impact on these groups compared to their white counterparts.
The persistent wage gap for Latinas can be attributed to several factors, including job segregation based on gender and race. Industries that primarily employ women, such as caregiving and domestic work, continue to be undervalued and underpaid, despite being considered essential.
According to the Lean In initiative, this pay disparity extends beyond service-based jobs, with Latinas experiencing minimal support in professional industries. Even with college degrees, Latinas see the worst pay gap compared to white men, and they are less likely to be promoted to management positions.
The pandemic also disproportionately impacted women, particularly in industries where they make up the majority of the workforce. Women were more likely than men to lose their jobs, exacerbating existing inequalities. Women of color face a significant "motherhood penalty," with many being pushed out of higher-paying jobs for taking time off to give birth. This penalty can have long-term consequences, hindering career advancement for years to come.
These factors all contribute to the persistent wage gap between Latinas and their white male counterparts.
While the Latino community's significant purchasing power has been a driving force in the economic recovery, it’s alarming that the community's earning power remains stagnant despite contributing disproportionately to the overall economy. These economic ripple effects have far-reaching consequences and can have a detrimental impact on entire communities and families, acting as a weight that brings them down.
Despite very slow progress, the fight to achieve pay equity continues to build steam year after year. It will take decisive action to close the gender wage gap and ensure that all women are paid fairly for their work.
