ROBERTSDALE, Ala. (WPMI) Mexican Nationals in Baldwin County are taking advantage of an effort to help them get documentation. For many, this is one step toward being able to secure a job and eventually American citizenship.
It's a sign tensions are easing coming out of Washington. The State Department and Immigration Officials seem to be on board. It's a first for Baldwin County, but we found that even organizers were leery to talk about it.
Our cameras we not allowed inside but all day for the past two days there has been a steady stream of people in and out of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church parish hall. Humberto Vastida, a Mexican National, said he had no problem telling us what was going on.
In Spanish he told us, "This is about documentation and making our lives easier, this helps us open bank accounts and get a form of id. If we are asked we can identify ourselves."
Nothing illegal here, what it amounts to is a "traveling Mexican consulate." Organizers with Catholic Social Services told us they didn't want to draw attention to the event but didn't say why. Fact is most of the people coming here would have to go as far as Atlanta or New Orleans to update visas, id's and passports.
Humberto said having his documents in order helps him keep a job and may one day help him become an American citizen. Officials with the Mexican Consulate would not comment on camera. They will be here until the end of the week.
