Mexican Consulate Comes to Plainfield

An outreach effort that spares Mexican immigrants trips to New York for necessary documents has taken place here since Tuesday and will conclude Saturday (Sept. 5, 2009) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Mexican Consulate on Wheels program has not been without controversy in some New Jersey towns, but other than a banner on the Grace Episcopal Church fence, there was no evidence it was taking place here this week. That is, until a peek into Knickle Hall revealed a long line moving down a rank of tables with helpers on hand and people getting ID photos at several stations. Individuals could be seen emerging with paperwork in hand, hopefully having been having their needs expedited.

Whatever the controversies, Grace is to be commended for making this outreach in Plainfield, where Mexicans are now one of the predominant Spanish-speaking communities. Plaintalker has noted the changes in population in previous posts. The Dec. 12 Feast Day of the Virgen de Guadalupe is observed here and the city has only one of three blessed images of the saint in the United States. Click here for a link to Plaintalker's blog post on the 2007 reception of the image.

--Bernice Paglia