Laredo consul says U.S. anniversary highlights ties

As the United States prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of its independence, Consul General of Mexico in Laredo Juan Carlos Mendoza Sánchez said the milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on the events that shaped democratic government and modern life throughout the Americas.

Mendoza Sánchez highlighted that by adopting the three-branch system of government established in the United States, Mexico left behind three centuries of Spanish colonial rule and a monarchical regime that destroyed part of its cultural heritage and imposed a system of servitude on the Mexican people.

“When José María Morelos wrote Sentimientos de la Nación, our first constitutional document, he was inspired by the United States of America,” he said.

He said that after achieving independence, Mexico was so influenced by the American model that its constitutional name became Estados Unidos Mexicanos  (United Mexican States).

“That is why the celebration of this 250th anniversary — which also opened the door to our independence and our republican form of government based on liberty, independence and justice — means so much to me and to Mexicans,” he said.

Mendoza Sánchez said the proximity between the United States and Mexico has contributed to the development of a thriving binational culture that blends traditions into a unique border identity.

“To understand life on the border, it is necessary to live on the border,” he said. “Here, residents of two countries coexist in a deeply interconnected and interdependent community with its own identity.”

He said many people live in one city and work in the other. Many children from Nuevo Laredo are U.S. citizens and attend school in Laredo. Trade and logistics require thousands of border crossings every day.

“All of this has created a unique identity whose best symbol may be the Tecos Dos Laredos baseball team, which alternates home games between the two cities.”

Mendoza Sanchez said that with a population that is more than 90% of Mexican origin, Laredo is undoubtedly the most Mexican city along the southern border of the United States.

“That reality has helped sustain bilingualism among a significant portion of the population in the Dos Laredos,” he said.

He highlighted that most officials with Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, ICE, HSI, the Webb County Sheriff’s Office and the Laredo Police Department are fluent in both English and Spanish.

“This circumstance greatly facilitates communication and binational cooperation in all areas,” he said. “It is very common to attend binational meetings where both languages are spoken interchangeably, depending on the speaker’s comfort level.”

He said bilingualism and biculture are reflected in daily life, work, school and family interactions because they are part of the region’s cultural identity.

“The ability for people to communicate in their native language while also understanding their neighbor’s language improves communication,” he said. “In binational meetings, alternating between Spanish and English allows ideas and messages to be conveyed effectively.”

Bilingualism has also helped build trust while strengthening commercial and cultural relationships, Mendoza Sánchez said.

“Mexicans who come into Laredo and do not speak English will always find someone who speaks Spanish — in stores, restaurants, government offices and throughout daily life,” he said.

Mendoza Sanchez emphasized that the Dos Laredos share a historic and interdependent connection unlike any other pair of sister cities along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Those historical ties explain why these sister cities have developed a unique binational culture from which their shared identity emerges,” he said.

Mendoza Sánchez noted that one in every 19 people living in the United States is of Hispanic origin and one in 11 is of Mexican origin, making Hispanic culture an essential part of U.S. history and the nation’s demographics.

“For those reasons, the Consulate General promotes binational culture through its annual cultural programs and stresses the importance of younger generations preserving Spanish as a second language — not only as a cultural heritage but also because of the professional advantages it offers,” he said.

He added that as commercial bridge expansion projects move forward while physical barriers continue to be erected along the Rio Grande, it is important to strengthen the “human bridges” created through trade and cultural exchange.

“Laredo’s prosperity is tied to trade with Mexico,” he said. “We are living through a process of regionalization in which, with or without a trade agreement, the trend will be toward expanding North American supply chains and increasing commercial, cultural and human exchanges. Geography is destiny, and ours is called North America.”

Mendoza Sánchez said what the rest of the country can learn from the border region depends on the ability of the Dos Laredos to demonstrate the border’s strategic importance to the daily lives and economies of both countries.

“The main lesson, in my opinion, is that binational cooperation based on mutual respect translates into shared security and prosperity,” he said.

One community, two nations

Mayor of Laredo Dr. Victor Treviño echoed Mendoza Sánchez’s words, saying Laredo is unlike any other American city.

“We are proudly the most Hispanic city along the southern border, and that identity is one of our greatest strengths,” he said. “Our history, culture, language and family ties transcend the Rio Grande because Laredo and Nuevo Laredo were founded as one community. This reminds us that our shared heritage is a bridge, not a barrier, because it is based on the fundamentals of democracy.”

He said that for that reason, maintaining a close and respectful relationship with the Consul General of Mexico in Laredo is not simply a diplomatic courtesy; it is essential to this binational community’s success.

“Every day, we work together on issues that directly affect the lives of our residents, from trade and economic development to public health, emergency management, tourism and cultural exchange,” Treviño said. “The strength of our binational relationship reflects the vision of our founders, who understood that cooperation and unity create a stronger, more resilient community.”