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By
: Oli Soto
Brighton Park Neighborhood Council
Chicago, Il
Residents of Brighton Park, a Chicago
southwest side community with an ever-growing immigrant population,
began to line up at a local TCF Bank as early as 5 a.m. on a Friday
morning in November in order to secure their chances of obtaining
one of the 400 Matricula Identification cards to be issued that
day.
Issued to Mexican nationals by the Mexican government since the
late 1800’s, the Matricula identification card remains a popular
and important tool for Mexicans living abroad.
“I realized how important the Matricula was for me when I
tried to enroll my children into school or tried to open a bank
account,” recalls community leader Lucina Ramirez. “How
can you prove who you are without an identification card? It would
have been impossible to prove my identity without the Matricula.”
The campaign to bring the Mexican Consulate out to the Brighton
Park neighborhood began last year when members of the Brighton Park
Immigrants United Committee, a project of the Brighton Park Neighborhood
Council, responded to the growing backlash against immigrants in
the country.
“Partnering with the Mexican Consulate of Chicago was a year-long
process, but the community had identified a great need and we were
going to make it happen,” said Maria Camarillo, member of
BPNC, “It wasn’t easy, we had to go all the way to the
Mexican Embassy in Washington D.C. to make our petitions heard.
Our goal was to give our community the chance to obtain proper identification.”
Growing concerns with national security since the events of Sept.
11, have put the Matricula Identification card in the spotlight,
yet the Matricula remains one of the securest and hardest documents
to obtain. Numerous people were unable to apply for an identification
card on that day because they could not present the required documentation
to apply.
“Unfortunately, some people have to be turned away, but the
Matricula is a secure document; issued only when proper and original
documentation is presented,” said one Mexican Consulate worker.
With its several security features, the Matricula is recognized
throughout the city of Chicago and by government institutions as
a valid form of identification.
In the last few weeks before the event, community leaders began
to visit community churches and local businesses not only to announce
the partnership with the Mexican Consulate of Chicago, but also
the partnership with TCF bank, the chosen sponsor of the Matricula
event.
In organizing the Matricula event BPNC leaders were also able to
present a strong case for the need to provide community residents
with English classes. As a result, TCF bank will be providing the
Brighton Park Neighborhood Council with the funding required to
start an English as a Second Language course in the coming year.
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