Washingtontimes.com
Guatemala, Honduras, Poland, Peru and El Salvador, aware of Mexico's success in getting identification cards to its citizens in the United States, including those here illegally, have begun or are considering issuing cards of their own, federal officials said yesterday.
Known as "matricula consular cards," the digitally-coded documents are being used by Mexican nationals in the United States as legal forms of identification, giving the holders the ability to apply for social services, open bank accounts, cash checks, sign lease and rental agreements, and board airplanes.
The laminated cards, which do not list the holder's immigration status, also are being used as a legal form of identification by those stopped or questioned by police. Nearly a million of the cards were issued last year by the Mexican government to Mexican nationals now in this country.
Posted by Suzanne at January 29, 2003