New Mexican Consul Worried About Impact Of California Drought, 2016 Presidential Election

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A top Mexican official in Sacramento says it's not just farmers suffering in the drought as migrant workers are finding themselves without jobs.

The Mexican Consulate sees thousands of migrants each year, helping them get access to visas and critical services, but the new consul says many Mexican immigrants don't come in even though they need help.

Alejandra Garcia Williams is excited for new position as Mexican Consul General, covering 24 counties from Sacramento. Her job is to help and protect Mexican nationals in our region, and she says many do need help.

"The big big issue right now is with the drought; it's a big problem for California," she said.

Working with local officials, the Oxford educated diplomat says her office is focusing on outreach to migrant farm workers, many who have found themselves without work due to the drought.

"If they decide not to stay in the United States, they can have the choice of going to Mexico," she said. "If they don't have resources, we can help them out, so they have be repatriated to their state of origin."

As the top Mexican official here, the experienced diplomat insists migrant workers benefit the California economy. However, the nearly 1 million Mexican immigrants in her jurisdiction may now feel they have nowhere to turn.

"Given all of the difficult that California right now is going through, I think it is really important," she said.

Meanwhile, Garcia says she's waiting to see how the 2016 presidential election turns out, with hopes for continued comprehensive immigration reform, despite anti-immigrant comments from Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.

When asked about the recent shooting death of 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco allegedly by Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, a five-time deported illegal immigrant, she said the following.

"I do believe it was a terrible, a terrible thing. But I couldn't pinpoint one thing, just because one migrant did something bad, and then you have to put everybody into the same box," she said.