Chattanooga Times

Aug. 2, 2008

Mexican consulate in Dalton

By: Perla Trevizo

DALTON, Ga. — Due to the high demand for renewal of Mexican passports and IDs, the Mexican Consulate in Atlanta is sending a “permanent mobile consulate” through Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee in Dalton this week.

“You save the time and money it takes to go to Atlanta,” said Adolfo Sanchez, who called to make an appointment last week and was waiting here Friday to get his passport.

“A lot of people work and can’t go to Atlanta, or they lose a whole day from work just to go to the consulate,” he added. “If they’re missing a document, they have to come back without getting anything accomplished.”

People may call and reserve one of the 1,200 appointments available from Wednesday through Sunday at each stop.

Mexican Consul General Salvador de Lara said in a prepared statement the “permanent mobile consulate” was requested by Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon to meet the high demand for updated registrations and to eliminate the need to travel to Atlanta.

HISPANIC POPULATION

* Georgia: 70,229

* Alabama: 11,497

* Tennessee: 19,324

Source: U.S. Census, 2006 estimates

MOBILE MEXICAN CONSULATE

* Next stop is Summerdale, Ala., from Wednesday through Aug. 10.

* Third stop is Nashville, Aug. 13-17

* For the complete schedule, visit www.consulmexatlanta.org

* For more information call the Mexican Consulate in Atlanta (404) 266-2233

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

* Call 1-877–639-4835
The consulate in Atlanta serves Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.

“They run the risk of being stopped by state troopers in Alabama and Georgia that are part of the 287(g) — a federal program that trains local law enforcement agents to enforce immigration laws — which leads to the deportation of those stopped for traffic violations,” Mr. de Lara said.

While U.S. Census 2006 estimates were that there were 100,000 Hispanics in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, acting Consul Maricela Quijano said the consulate estimates there are 800,000 Mexicans in the area.

The number of passports they’ve issued has tripled or quadrupled during this current year, Ms. Quijano said.

The consulate in Atlanta expects this year to issue about 80,000 documents, and about 32,000 through the mobile consulate, a 60 percent increase from 2007, according to the statement.

It’s also opened one Saturday every three weeks and they’ve added 100 appointments every Friday.

Ms. Quijano said because of the demand, the next appointment available in Atlanta is in February.

“We are hoping that through these initiatives we can reduce the waiting time in a month and open up more slots for people to go to Atlanta,” she said.

Braulia Salazar, who traveled from Chattanooga to Dalton to get her passport and a matricula consular, or Mexican ID card, said she was extremely happy she got an appointment.

“For me it’s really hard to go to Atlanta because I have two young children,” she said as waited in line.

Others weren’t so lucky. Mr. Sanchez said four of his sons weren’t able to get one.

“I think a lot of people were left out,” he said. “They should do this more often. It’s a very good thing.”

HERE

HERE for my own matricula consular