Enrique Morones

Enrique Morones (-Present) is the founder and director of San Diego-based human rights organisation Border Angels.

He also is founder of House of Mexico, established ”to share, celebrate, educate and promote the rich art, culture, and history of Mexico to San Diego and its visitors.” ^[1]

Early life

He was born in San Diego and is the son of Luis Morones and Laura Carega, and grandson of Mexican Union leader Luis Negrette Morones^[2] He grew up in the area of Barrio Logan in a Catholic Mexican-American family. His father Luis Morones worked for the Mexico Fish and Game Department in San Diego before operating Aeroméxico's operations in San Diego. [Source: Morones, Enrique (2012). The Power of One: The Story of the Border Angels. San Diego State University Press. p. 7.]

Enrique graduated from Saint Augustine High School in 1974 and was awarded a four-year scholarship to the University of San Diego where he studied a wide variety of subjects including psychology, oceanography, French and karate. He later transferred to San Diego State University first to run track, and later to study marketing, graduating with a degree in International Marketing. He would later return to the University of San Diego to complete a Masters in Executive Leadership. [Source: Morones, Enrique (2012). The Power of One: The Story of the Border Angels. San Diego State University Press. p. 7.]

San Diego Padres

Enrique Morones was the Vice President of Latino Marketing for the professional baseball team, the San Diego Padres, which he joined in 1995 and worked for until 2001. ^[3] While working for the Padres, Enrique became the first person to receive dual US/Mexican nationality, and received his documents from Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo in 1998. [Source: Morones, Enrique (2012). The Power of One: The Story of the Border Angels. San Diego State University Press. p. 7.]

Border Angels

Enrique Morones founded San Diego-based human rights organisation Border Angels in 1986 after a meeting with Ethel Kennedy. Morones describes himself as a "proud American, and even prouder Mexican".^[4] On several occasions Morones has represented the Border Angels on television, including an interview by Tucker Carlson on the Fox News Network in January 2016. In this interview, Morones denied being prouder of his Mexican citizenship than his American citizenship.^[5]

Awards

• Founder of the House of Mexico in Balboa Park, San Diego.
• Winner of Mexican Human Rights Award in 2009 by President Felipe Calderon as well as Mexico’s Othli’s Award.
• First person to gain dual nationality for both Mexico and the United States in a ceremony with Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo in 1998.
• Named in the Mexican Council’s top 25 Mexicans in the history of San Diego.
• Named one of Hispanic Business Magazine’s “most influential” Latinos in the United States.
• Named one of San Diego Magazine’s “50 People to Watch”.
• One of the first generation of US-based advisors to Mexican President Vincente Fox, known as CCIME “The Institute of Mexicans Abroad”, and director of the Border Commission in 2003.

Books

Enrique Morones is the co-author of "The Power of One: The Story of the Border Angels" with Richard Griswold del Castillo, published by San Diego State University Press.

References

1. ↑ "House of Mexico". houseofmexico.org. Retrieved 2016-11-28. 
2. ↑ "Border Angels Complete 25 Years of Aiding Immigrants". Fox News Latino. November 21, 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2016. 
3. ↑ Zirin, Dave. "Enrique Morones: The Man Who Would Move the Game". The Nation. Retrieved 28 June 2016. 
4. ↑ http://www.borderangels.org/staff-page/enrique-morones/
5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rybyH-0IGDk