Washingtontimes.com
The Mexican government, despite concerns by U.S. law-enforcement authorities and immigration officials, is handing out thousands of identity cards to Mexican nationals in this country, including those here illegally.
The "matricular consular cards" cost about $25, are good for five years and can be obtained from a Mexican consular office with a birth certificate and a photo identification issued in either Mexico or the United States.
The cards have been used by Mexican nationals to obtain social services, establish bank accounts, open utility accounts and obtain building permits. They also have been used as legal identification for those who have been detained by state, local and federal law-enforcement authorities.
"The most important thing to understand about these Mexican matriculas is that they are almost absolute proof that the bearer is an illegal alien," said Dan Stein, executive director of the Washington-based Federation for American Immigration Reform.
"Legal immigrants can get valid U.S. documents, like state-issued driver's licenses, while visitors can prove their identity with a passport and a valid visa. The only people who would need these consular-issued IDs are illegal aliens," Mr. Stein said.
Aside from tacitly recognizing the presence of people who are violating the law, Mr. Stein said the U.S. government — in allowing the cards to be used as identification — has placed critical national security matters in the hands of the foreign governments that issue the cards.
Posted by Suzanne at January 22, 2003