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Mexican Consulate Brings Outreach Program to Tyler

Hundreds of Mexican citizens lined up outside the Hispanic Service Center to apply for identification cards and passports on Saturday, as representatives from the Mexican Consulate in Dallas came to Tyler to accept applications.

Representative Hugo Juarez said the visit is part of the consulate's outreach program to "provide services we normally provide in Dallas."

"The idea is to bring the service closer to their homes," Juarez said, explaining that it allows Mexicans to apply in a short time, without having to miss work. Otherwise, applicants would have to travel to Dallas, losing one or two days' salary.


Juarez said the program seeks to visit several large cities in the Dallas consulate's 120-county jurisdiction.

Applicants are vying for one of two documents: the matricula (identification papers) or a Mexican passport. Juarez said there are three application requirements: proof of identity, proof of Mexican citizenship and proof of address.

Adriana Escoto, Jacksonville, agreed with several mothers when she said she is applying for a matricula so her daughter could attend school.

An intern with the consulate, Alba Montes, explained that schools require these papers for Mexican children to attend.

The matricula also enables Mexican citizens to open bank accounts, many of which now recognize the document as a proper form of identification.

Juarez said having a matricula also aids police officers by providing official identification.

The passport serves as "a seal to go back and forth between the United States and Mexico," Juarez said, adding that Mexican citizens can even visit Canada without a visa.

Maria Flores said she wanted a matricula to get her children into school. Through a translator, she said she first moved to Texas because "here, they have more opportunities."

Five hundred matriculas were available to Saturday's applicants, and 40 passports were on hand.

The Mexican Consulate in Dallas issues 200 to 250 matriculas on an average day, Juarez said.


Lindsay Randall covers Henderson and Van Zandt counties. She can be reached at 903.596.6284. e-mail: news@tylerpaper.com

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