Four pastors of Hispanic churches south of Atlanta gathered in Doraville on Tuesday to encourage symbolic adoptions of illegal Hispanic immigrants.

"For each citizen who votes and adopts an immigrant . . . it may change their view on what the politicians are doing," said Pastor Mario Rodriguez of Pinecrest Baptist church in McDonough.

Many Americans are unaware that the people who share their places of worship in Hispanic missions are here illegally, said Pastor Orlando Barranco of the Second Baptist Church of Griffin, Hispanic mission.

"They don't believe 80 to 90 percent of our congregants are illegal," Barranco said in Spanish at the press conference, hosted by the Salvation Army in Doraville.

Joyce Young, 82, of Buckhead, told the group she plans to adopt Mexican immigrant Abelardo Vasquez Siva, 31, of the Emory area of DeKalb County, who is in deportation proceedings.

Vasquez was stopped in Gainesville July 18 and arrested for speeding 15 miles over the limit and driving without a license. He was taken to Hall County jail, where he was processed for deportation. Hall County has a program in which deputies check the legal status of inmates and start the deportation process for those here illegally.

Vasquez had lived in metro Atlanta for eight years and worked construction. The day he was arrested he was on his way to a part time job taking pictures for a 15th birthday party.

Young knows friends of Vasquez and agreed to adopt him symbolically.

"I know no one of better character," Young said. "I find it absolutely ironic for him to be in jail."

The adopt-an-immigrant movement began in California by a group called the Latin American International Coalition.

Its leader is trying to get the program started in metro Atlanta. The four metro Atlanta pastors want other churches and denominations to join in their efforts.