Tucson, Ariz. -- The consulate said the large number of Guatemalan children held in a Border Patrol facility in Nogales put more urgency on opening an office nearby.
Jimena Diaz, the Consul General for Guatemala in Phoenix said officials have been planning since late last year to place representatives in Tucson. She said the city’s proximity to the border will make it easier to monitor treatment of Guatemalans in detention centers in Arizona and New Mexico.
Diaz said this is still important to the consulate whether the number of child border crossers continues to drop or not. She said they hope to open the office by September and that there will be a staff of eight people working out of the new site.