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Demand for Dual Citizenship rises amid immigration fears

WITH MEXICAN BIRTH CERTIFICATE | Official Jonathan Hernández Gallardo explains the process. (Photo/El Comercio de Colorado)

1,232 DUAL CITIZENSHIP BIRTH CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY MEXICAN CONSULATE IN DENVER IN 2025

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado Staff

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The Mexican Consulate in Denver has issued 1,232 birth certificates so far in 2025 to individuals not born in Mexico but with Mexican ancestry. This figure, revealed by the Consul General of Mexico in Denver, Pavel Meléndez Cruz, marks a significant milestone: “This number is what we achieved in the entire year of 2024, and now, in just this semester, we’ve already surpassed last year’s total.”

This increase is attributed to a simplification of procedures promoted by the Mexican federal government, aimed at making consular services more accessible. The ability to obtain dual Mexican nationality is based on a 2021 amendment to Article 30 of the Mexican Constitution, which removed the limitation that restricted the transmission of nationality to only the first generation born abroad.

Now, Mexican nationality can be passed down to successive generations without limitation. Nationality by “blood” (ius sanguinis) is recognized, meaning individuals with Mexican parents or grandparents, regardless of birthplace, can inherit the nationality. The reform also eliminated the requirement that both parents be Mexican — now, it’s enough for just one parent to be a Mexican citizen.

Demand for Dual Citizenship rises amid immigration fears

Entregan 1,232 actas por doble nacionalidad en consulado de Denver en 2025

Proof of Parentage

“The process is not complicated. The documents required for a person born outside of Mexico to obtain Mexican nationality, if at least one parent is Mexican, are simple and basic,” said Jonathan Hernández Gallardo, a consular official. Required documents include the applicant’s birth certificate, a valid government-issued ID, and the parent’s Mexican birth certificate or passport.

A key element is the proof of parentage, which is evaluated through documents and a sworn statement from the parent. The consulate not only issues the birth certificate — like the 1,232nd one handed out during our reporting — but also allows the recipient to apply for a Mexican passport the same day, completing two essential procedures in one visit.

Demand Up 500 Percent

These processes are facilitated through a digital platform. “What used to take three hours can now be done in an hour and a half to two hours, provided the documentation is in order,” Hernández Gallardo said. The demand for dual nationality, which has surged by 500% from October 2024 to July 2025, is partially driven by uncertainty over U.S. immigration policies.

Between 75% and 80% of all dual nationality requests are for minors. The testimony of Gina Millán, a Mexican mother whose daughter was born in the United States, perfectly illustrates the benefit: “My daughter was born here in the U.S., and when I found out she could be a Mexican citizen, I encouraged her to apply. I believe all Mexicans should make sure their children have dual citizenship,” she said.