The US Consulate General in Ciudad Juárez

Ciudad Juárez. You can click here for the latest

16 people are dead. The victims? Teenagers at a party.

In the New York Times link above, you can read about the drugs, and the crime and the violence. That Juárez is the most dangerous city in all of Mexico is a given. Do a search and you’ll see for yourself.

But guess what else is in Ciudad Juárez? That’s right, my puppies, The US Consulate General.

You may think, so what?

Think again.

The Consulate General in Cd. Juarez is the only immigrant visa issuance post in Mexico, and is the only post which is authorized to take fingerprints required for the criminal history record check as part of the immigrant visa application process.

So any Mexican who wants to try to abide by US immigration laws must go to Ciudad Juárez for their US permanent residency appointment. The most dangerous city in all of Mexico. My husband and I were there in May of 2006. R’s application was rejected. If he ever does apply again, we’ll have to do another trip to Ciudad Juárez.

Off the top of my head, I know two men who saw people get shot in Ciudad Juárez when they were there for the US permanent residency appointment.

Why does the US government continue to force immigrants to literally risk their lives to follow US immigration law?

And kids, US citizens live in Ciudad Juárez as well. Following their love. Pushing away their fear.