President Donald Trump pledged mass deportations of undocumented immigrants around the country. And for consulates of Mexico and other countries where immigrants commonly come from, it’s a situation they’re monitoring closely. But if there’s one thing the Consulate of Mexico in Las Vegas’ Head Consul wants people to know:  while those mass deportations are not currently happening in Nevada, it’s critical for people to understand what their options are.

“It is important for the Mexican community and the Hispanic community at large to know that they do have rights. And that they can prepare their personal situation in case they need to go back,” said Head Consul Patricia Cortés Guadarrama.

Cortés Guadarrama told Nevada Week her office has seen a lot of fear in the clients who have come to the Consulate. And with so many rumors spreading about raids and deportations, she stresses the importance of having accurate and official sources of information. 

“We are very prone to listen to, or say ‘My neighbor’s cousin’s girlfriend said such and such’ or ‘My aunt …’ but these are not necessarily real sources of information,” she said.

To get that information out there, the Consulate of Mexico in Las Vegas is partnering with multiple community groups and members for “Know Your Rights” town hall meetings, where officials can share information with Nevada’s immigrant community. The Consulate is also working with law enforcement around the state and with the Clark County School District to reach more people who may have questions. 

Cortés Guadarrama says the few Nevadans facing deportation likely already have an administrative deportation order or a criminal record. Still, she encourages clients to be prepared for any scenario.

“There is an opportunity, I find, to organize our personal information, our personal effects … if you have bank accounts. People come to the Consulate and ask ‘So, if I own a house, if I have a car, or have a bank account, what happens if I have to go back for whatever reason?’ We help them out with that,” she said.

The Consulate of Mexico in Las Vegas is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m,. You can find more information on the Consulate's website here.