Haz Patria: Hernandez becomes a Mexican, for reals

I've just received outstanding, once-in-a-lifetime news from my mother, via an email chockful with delicious Mexican and Tijuana lingo:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!  Ya eres oficialmente un MEXICANO 100%.!!!!! Daniel Michel (nadie sabe pronunciar Michael...) Hernandez Andrade de Tijuana, El Florido pa' que mas te guste...ju-juy!!! Ah! y todo mundo conoce el nombre Michel porque asi se llama el hijo menor de Veronica Castro (hermano de Cristian Castro) [...] ju-juy!!!!!!!

What this basically means, friends, is that I've acquired Mexican citizenship! I am now an authentic Mexican-American, or American-Mexican. Or Meximerican? We'll need some time to think this through.

Meantime, the short version of how it happened is, since both my parents are Mexican-born, and since the Mexican government allows for such things, I was able to get a birth certificate in Tijuana denoting myself as a "Mexican born on foreign soil," i.e. Kaiser in Mission Valley, San Diego. I know, I know: hilarious, but brilliant. And, frankly, what a relief.

* Your still-active-but-less-frequently-so blogger is pictured above on a windy and chilly recent night at the observation deck of the Torre Latinoamericana, Mexico, D.F.

Comments

[Ioan Grillo]

Nice one bruv. Remember though that Mexican citizenship comes with a promise to serve the patria in times of war...only joking man. It was good planning to get the Mex passport for the future. When the United States suffers a bloody collapse you won't have to line up with the rest of the U.S. refugees. Actually I think my country Blighty might be the first to go underwater. I best get my Mex passport sorted as well...

[Another Dual Citizen]

Remember that you can also vote in Mexican federal elections. Last year, the Federal government spent quite a lot to encourage voter turnout amongst Mexican's abroad, with relatively small turnout.

[Hector]

Congrats Daniel. I've thought of doing that since my parents were both born in Jalisco. but I'd be doing it for purely mercenary reasons--like buying coastal property! He he. Just kidding.

Congratulations again. Have fun in the de efe.

[Daniel H.]

For God, bread, and Country(ies)!

[e@v]

now the photo of you with one foot on the "east" side and the other on the "west" side of LA has more meaning

[Tania]

That is a fab picture! I'm glad el df is treating you well. Good luck with all your endeavors. I think I'll nab me a Mexican passport as well for Chicanismo's sake.

Peace

[Cynthia]

orale!!! me stas dando ideas..

[Andrew C. Morales-Miramontes]

Felicidades! From one ex-L.A.Times Latino (Consumer/Brand Marketing) to another, this is such a great achievement. I am trying to do the opposite, become an American Citizen. I was born in Mexico and trying to obtain American Citizenship. The best of both MUNDOS!

Tu amigo,

A.C. Morales-Miramontes

[Kelly]

Congrats. Your comments reminded me of this paper I read in college. Perhaps you will find it interesting: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content?content=10.1080/1369183042000305735

Sorry if it is behind a subscription wall.

[Chuy]

Becoming a Mexican citizen was already easy before the current policy you describe, as I discovered over ten years ago.

At twenty or so, I moved to Mexico and found I needed papers to work. So I went to the municipal archives and asked for a copy of my birth certificate, giving them all the necessary info. Then I acted like I was shocked when they told me they couldn't find it. I accused them of negligence, incompetence--I ranted about our screwed up country which loses such important documents. After a little while, they suggested I find some school or church document that stated my name and birth date and they would use that to create a "new" birth certificate for me.

Finally, I went to our town priest, who was a family friend, explained to him that I needed citizenship so I could legally work and that he could help me with a fake baptismal certificate which I would take back to the municipal archives. He agreed. And the very next day I became a Mexican citizen. So, unlike you, Daniel, I have the honor of having been born both in Mexico (according to my Mexican passport) AND the US (according to my US passport).

[urban memo]

congrats!

i have been wanting to do the same thing, but just haven't had the patience to go through the beurocracy.

[Melissa Sanchez]

felicidades!!!!

[Daniel H.]

Gracias por los comentarios, amigos. Ya me estan diciendo aca "compatriota," "compadre," "cabron," and "hijo de la chingada," which I guess is a good thing!

[cindylu]

But I wanna an Oompah Loompah now!

Wait, that's supposed to be dual citizenship.

I know I'm eligible since both parents are Mexican-born, just haven't gotten around to doing it. Being a citizen of one country is hard enough.

[alejandro delgado]

chido carnal, ahora si a practicar el "eslang" chilanguero.
AD

[Chicana Skies]

And I thought I was the only one who has thought of that!! I too want to get my Mexican citizenship thru my Mexican-born parents because I have a feeling the U.S. empire is gonna go under in our lifetime and I don't want to be stuck here when that happens.

[dave]

Sus ojos pobres parecen muy irritados de la niebla tóxica de invierno en la Ciudad. ¿O llora usted debido al celo patriótico?