Mexican consulate team to arrive in Paso Robles Friday
Mexican Consulate Berenice Diaz Ceballos with Maria Elena Garcia, president of the Hispanic Business Association in Paso Robles. The consulate’s mobile team will be in Paso Robles Saturday and Sunday to help Mexican citizens living and working in the United States file the paperwork they need to receive work visas, passports and other vital documents. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Business Association.
Hundreds of Mexican residents expected to seek help filing paperwork
A team from the Mexican consulate is expected to arrive in Paso Robles Friday in time for a weekend of 12-hour days reaching out to Mexican citizens who live and work in the United States.
Mexican residents often have difficulty filing the proper paperwork for visas, ID cards and passports, and the consulate’s mobile unit helps families and individuals in need.
“These people sometimes live in fear,” said Maria Garcia, president of the Hispanic Business Association in Paso Robles. “They’re here and working but they don’t have the correct documents. Even at work, at a winery, in the fields. “They’re in fear that someone’s going to find out they don’t have a work visa, that they’re going to lose their job — that’s why they’re here, to work. This will give them peace to be able to work.”
The consulate team’s arrival follows a visit from Mexican Consulate Berenice Diaz Ceballos in May when she met with North County mayors Steve Martin from Paso Robles and Tom O’Malley from Atascadero. In her meeting, she stressed the importance of reaching out to undocumented workers to help them negotiate government regulations regarding proof of identity and citizenship.
“I am happy the consulate’s team will be able to use our city as a convenient place to assist Mexican citizens,” Martin said. “I learned a great deal about the economic and cultural ties between our two countries during the consulate’s recent visit.”
For several years, the consulate’s mobile team has been coming to the North County, a help to locals who would otherwise have to travel to Oxnard or Fresno for such services. The number of people who show up for appointments shows there is a need — last year, more than 340 Mexican U.S. residents met with the team. This year, more than 200 have appointments so far.
“It’s hard for people to get these things done,” Garcia said. “With the new law, for example, they can get a driver’s license, but they still can’t do that if they can’t show a place of residence in Mexico — they need that paperwork.”
The group needs a large facility to meet, and this year, none forthcoming, the owners of Mi Ranchito restaurant at 1920 Creston Road in Paso Robles are closing their business for the weekend to offer its space. The team sets up at 6 a.m. and continues through to 6 p.m., Garcia said.
The restaurant isn’t large, so Garcia said she is sending out the word for anyone with pop-up canopies to come by on Saturday to set them up to help shelter lines of people who may be waiting outside. Unopened water and snacks are also welcome.
To make an appointment, call the toll-free number, (877) 639-4835.
