BOISE, Idaho — Reports show more Americans with Mexico-born parents are seeking dual-citizen between the United States and Mexico. This is because recent changes Mexico made, making the process easier than ever.
In 2023, Mexico amended its law to allow people born outside the country to apply for citizenship if at least one of their parents was born in Mexico. A splash that created a wave of Americans to head to their consultant to begin the dual citizenship process, including those in the Gem State.
Idaho Native Micaela Rios has had dual citizenship since she was a teenager. She’s used her status for her many trips to Mexico, most recently to Jalisco, Mexico.
She smiled and showed KTVB some of the souvenirs of her trip, saying, "There's something about the color and the woodwork that immediately you know it's Mexican."
"I'm very grateful, and because, it was such an easy process for me," Micaela said.
Becoming a dual citizen has many benefits.
"If you travel as a Mexican, you don't have to pay the taxes. Then, if you want to travel, you can stay longer than 180 days," said Sergio Garcia, a documentation officer at Boise's Mexico Consultant.
He continued, "You can study in Mexico, and college or university is cheaper. Then you can go and buy houses and properties in Mexico as a Mexican. Tha's much better than doing it as a foreigner, or you can invest, you can do business in Mexico.
The new amendments to Mexico's law also simplified the process at the consulate taking about 2 hours to receive.
"We need both parents' Mexican birth certificates, their IDs, their marriage license or certificate from the US or Mexico, and then your birth certificate with your ID," Garcia said.
The Boise Mexican consulate covers 37 counties in Idaho, 33 counties in Montana, and 4 counties in Oregon. In that area, there are approximately 300,000 Mexican people Garica said.
In 2022, the consulate stated that 328 people applied for dual citizenship, and in 2023, that number was 581. In 2024, from January to June it's already 349 people.
"For this year we will have more than 600, 700 dual citizenships," Garica said.
He also said many of them voted in this year's historic Mexican election, which saw the nation elect its first woman president.
When asked why it's important to vote in another country, Micaela said, "If I ever have to move to Mexico, or we decide to move to Mexico, I would love to participate in the political realm of what's happening there. Because that's going to impact my family as well."
And while it's important to keep up with politics, health, and community, making other lighter decisions can also be difficult.
When asked about which team she is rooting for in the 2024 Olympics, she laughed and said she doesn't know.
In light of the 2024 Paris Olympics, athletes represent their country, but it's not uncommon for athletes with dual citizenship to choose which country to represent - like wrestler Austin Gomez. He is competing for Mexico in the games, saying it connects him to his roots.
And it's the same reason Micaela is proud of her dual citizenship.
"It's a very healing process to just be in the place where your ancestors were at, and then come back and appreciate the country that you're in as well," she said.
It's something the head of the Consulate of Mexico, Ricardo Higuera, should be something everyone who qualifies should apply for.
