Record-Journal (Meriden, CT)

By Samaia Hernandez

WALLINGFORD – National flags of more than a dozen Spanish- speaking nations hang from the walls at the building at 284 Washington St., home to the 38-year-old Spanish Community of Wallingford.

This week, however, its doors will be open to provide a specialized service to nationals of just one country.

Monday marked the first of a three-day visit from the Mexican “Consulado Sobre Ruedas,” or Consulate on Wheels. Nearly 10 workers from the Manhattanbased agency, which provides ID and passport services to Mexican nationals, set up stations to assist area residents with services they’d otherwise have to go to New York or Boston to get.

Wallingford’s Hispanic community makes up about 7 percent of the town’s 45,212 residents, according to 2008 census estimates, and is up 62 percent since 2000.

Many people, including Marlene Garcia, a town resident for 17 years, have emigrated from the same Mexican state of Michoacán.

Garcia was one of dozens of people who maneuvered through the satellite consulate office Monday, filling out paperwork, having their photos taken and leaving with new identification cards.

She was there to help her father, Agustin, renew his passport so he can return to the province of Morelia in Michoacán to help organize a family event.

She recalls waiting in lines up to 12 hours in New York for the same service.“My parents didn’t have to make an appointment in New York City or Boston,” said Garcia, a former employee of the Wallingford public schools, “so this works out perfectly.”

Estaban Sampablo, of the Hartford-based Connecticut Association for United Spanish Action, which helped organize the visit, said the next two weeks are a key travel time for many Mexican nationals, who will be returning for religious celebrations.

“It’s like spring break here,” he said. “It’s Holy Week and people need their passports to go to Mexico.”

In 2008, the last year the traveling office came to town, more than 300 people showed up from all over southern Connecticut. Monday was relatively slow in comparison.

Maria F. Harlow, interim director of SCOW, predicted more visitors today and Wednesday.

“Two years ago they were here for the entire week and towards the weekend it got crowded,” said Harlow, prior board president.

Most people were interested in identification and passport services. The consulate is hoping to return in May to assist people seeking dual citizenship.

The day was also an opportunity for census officials who ran their own booth indoors and helped visitors fill out paperwork for the 2010 census, collecting more than 25 forms. Last month, consulate officials stopped in Bridgeport, where hundreds of people showed up. Sampablo says the highest turnout so far took place in New Haven.

The Mexican population in Wallingford began to grow when people moved to the area to work for the steel companies, Harlow said, which helps to explain how many families trace their roots to the same state.

Consulate services will continue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Wednesday.

shernandez@record-journal.com (203) 317-2266 The Mexican Consulate on Wheels visits Wallingford on Monday to help people with passports and ID cards. The office will also be there today and Wednesday.

Rob Beecher Record-Journal

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