Honduran consuls in US suspended for bribe-taking

Eight of the 11 Honduran consuls in the United States have been suspended, accused of illegally issuing consular identity papers to Hondurans in exchange for bribes, an official said.

Honduras suspended the consuls in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and New Orleans, chief cabinet official Reinaldo Sanchez told reporters yesterday.

The consuls are accused of issuing papers, generally in exchange for USD 50, without authorisation. They may face legal action.

More than one million Hondurans are thought to live in the United States, many of them as undocumented migrants.