By Ana Mendieta Staff Reporter. The Chicago Sun Times. May 22, 2000.

When the energetic Heriberto Galindo arrived in Chicago as the Mexican consul in 1998, he said he was eager to serve his constituents.

"I want to make a promise. I will work hard. I will work sincerely," Galindo said in his first interview.

Two years later, the controversial Galindo is off to take a position he has long coveted: Mexican ambassador to Cuba.

Galindo said he is proud of his achievements while serving 1 million Mexicans in the Midwest.

Last week he brokered a deal with Chicago's immigration authorities to open a Mexican consular office in O'Hare Airport to assist Mexican newcomers.

"I've fulfilled all the goals I set for myself: to defend the Mexican community, regardless of their immigration status, promote the Mexican culture and traditions, stimulate business between Mexico and Illinois, and improve the consular services to the public."

But Galindo has faced intense heat for certain decisions.

Last December he attached to all consular services a $5 fee--called a donation--to finance the Mexican Cultural and Educational Institute of Chicago, a nonprofit corporation of which Galindo is board president.

Under community pressure, Galindo announced in late February that the donation would indeed be optional.

"It's very serious that the Mexican consul in Chicago arbitrarily adds $5 to the official consular fees, abusing the goodwill of Mexicans," said Juan Andres Mora, founding member of the International Coalition of Mexicans Abroad, an umbrella group for 132 organizations nationwide.

Just a few days before Galindo's departure, one of his consular employees received a financial commission in violation of Mexico's foreign ministry laws.

Israel Rodriguez, who heads Mexico's Institute of Social Security in the Consulate, was paid a $1,666 commission in April for helping arrange a donation of $100,000 from a money transfer company to IMCE, the same group headed by Galindo.

Mexican Foreign Ministry laws ban consular employees from engaging in any commercial activity.

"As soon as I found out about it, Rodriguez returned the commission," Galindo said. "There is no problem."

Copyright 2000, Digital Chicago Inc.

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