In 1989, Maria Hinojosa gave up her Mexican citizenship. She traded in her green passport for a blue one and became an American. She didn’t know it at the time, but she’d spend years of her life trying to get that citizenship back. 

But Maria’s not the only one looking for belonging and political power outside of the United States. Since the inauguration of Donald Trump to his second term in office, Mexican consulates have seen a surge in requests and applications for dual citizenship. And people are being driven by desire or necessity. 

Among those applying are immigrant parents who are fearful of getting swept up in Trump’s deportation campaign, so getting Mexican papers for their U.S.-born children is one way to prepare for the worst. And there are young people who say that the American dream has become financially unattainable, so they’re turning to Mexico for the promise of a much better life. 

For Maria, the quest is coming from a place of pride. She is reclaiming a citizenship that she gave up long ago. But this very personal journey also asks deeply political questions, like: what are the responsibilities that come with citizenship, and who gets to decide if and where you belong? 

Collage by Luis Luna

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Episode Credits:

Host: Maria Hinojosa

Producer: Rebeca Ibarra

Editor: Fernanda Echavarri

Fact Checker: Roxana Aguirre

Engineer: Julia Caruso

Social Media: Luis Luna, Adreanna Rodriguez and Anhelo Reyes

Executive Producers: Peniley Ramirez and Maria Hinojosa