“They came in and locksmiths changed the locks without saying why.” The consulate is now run by people appointed by former Chancellor Rhodes, Hernandez said.

Mario Fortin explained that Mrs. Marta Zuniga was named to the consular office by the former president Manuel Zelaya.

The actions of former Foreign Minister Patricia Rhodes affects thousands of Hondurans living in the U.S., who now cannot have their passports processed at the consulate of Honduras in Washington, the Foreign Ministry officials complained.

Patricia Rhodes appointees have taken control of the embassy without leaving the ability to guarantee proper passports, said David Hernandez.

The consular section in Washington is responsible for issuing passports for Honduras, and is the only one that can issue it in the United States, which strands compatriots from accessing this process in the United States of America.

Hernandez affirmed that there is no way to get passports, and that the Hondurans are at risk of being cheated.

“The systems are blocked and they are not empowered or authorized, and have no authoritative signatures.” Any service the replacement consulates gives is going to be a scam, because the service will not be recognized by the Honduran Government. There is no control over where the money will go, and those paying for services will find that the documentation is not accepted. “Then a person has lost his money and his time.” stressed the official.