Mexican consulates in U.S. begin issuing immigrants birth certificates

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- The Mexican government began issuing birth certificates at its 50 U.S. consulates on Thursday, a move that could help immigrants stay in the country under President Barack Obama's new immigration policy.

Birth certificates will make it easier for Mexican immigrants to apply for drivers licenses in California, work permits and ultimately protection from deportation.

"It would be the benefit: the economic benefit, the social benefit, the cultural benefit to the communities housing them," Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jose Antonio Meade said.

For Pedro Zamora, it been a long time coming. The Garden Grove resident immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico 20 years ago. On Thursday, he was issued his birth certificate at the consulate in Santa Ana.

"If you go to apply for the driver's license, if you go to apply for something else, for us it's very important," Zamora said.

Previously, the Mexican government required citizens to get their birth certificates from offices in Mexico. Zamora says that's a costly, time consuming process, which can often leave people empty-handed.

"Seven to 15 days you wait for that and sometimes the document gets lost in the mail," Zamora said.

The move by the Mexican government comes as Republicans in Congress work to remove some of the protections for undocumented immigrants put in place by President Obama.

Meade says he understands the debate, but wants to help his people.

"We will continue to support those programs and we will continue to support migrants in their aspiration to reduce the gap between citizens' rights and migrants' rights," Meade said.

As for Zamora, he says the next step is to get his drivers' license, so he can drive legally and continue chasing his American Dream.

"I'm not afraid of anything, because I have my license and I'm happy," Zamora said.