The Mexican Consulate applauded President Barack Obama’s executive order on immigration on Monday.
On behalf of the Mexican government, the consulate invited the media, community leaders and immigrants to a press conference.
Many immigrants attended to find out how they might benefit by Obama’s reprieve from deportation.
Sergio Ponce works for the consulate, and he says the goal is to help Mexican citizens living in the U.S. make sense of the opportunity to “come out of the shadows.”
“That’s our purpose to the community, to help. To let them know that here’s a consulate that will protect for their interests,” said Ponce.
At Monday’s press conference, the Mexican Consulate showcased the documents it could provide immigrants including Mexican identification cards and Mexican passports.
The consulate also wanted to let immigrants know it has added more mobile consulates throughout Central and North Florida. Immigration attorneys and others will be there to help them navigate the process of becoming legal under the president’s executive order.
It also plans to add weekend hours beginning December 6. By then, the Mexican Consulate expects it will have more details about how President Obama’s executive order on immigration applies to them.