Matricular Consular Cards Vs. Immigration Documents
John W. Slagle
February 20, 2006
The Matricular Consular Identification Card has been a general project of the Mexican Government since 2003. At last count, 47 Mexican Consulate Offices within the United States had issued several million of these cards. The Government of Mexico is probably aware of the exact number of cards issued.
A Mexican birth certificate and thirty dollars is the only requirement. False as well as valid birth certificates are never in short supply.
The Matricular ID is accepted at Banks to open new accounts to 900 Police Departments in 14 States across the country.
Police Departments believe they have actual proof of a person’s Identity with the Mexican card.
Legal Immigrants and non-immigrants including daily legitimate Border Crossers have in their possession U.S. Government issued Immigration Registration Cards or a Valid Passport with a stamped Visa.
A Matricular Consular Identification only establishes that the bearer under whatever name he or she cares to use is “without documents” and illegally residing in the United States.
I keep in contact with many Agents across the country that are still employed as law enforcement agents with Customs and Border Protection.
One Border Patrol Agent told me he had stopped a car that was driven by an illegal alien with two female passengers. The male driver had five Matricular Consular cards with five different names and addresses in Los Angeles. Each Matricular had the man’s photo and was a legitimate card issued by the Mexican Government.
The two females also had two cards each with different names and false addresses. Numerous birth certificates were found. This happens all the time and true identities are always determined through IAFIS, fingerprints.
The Patriot Act regulations require that financial institutions implement reasonable procedures to (1) verify the identity of any person opening an account; (2) maintain records of information used to verify the person’s identity; and (3) determine whether the person appears on any list of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations.
Congressman Tom Tancredo stated in a press release May, 22, 2003 that the U.S. Treasury Department and Banking Industry acceptance of the Matricula needed to be investigated.
The Treasury Department regulations send a dangerous message about immigration enforcement and appear indifferent to a potential threat to our national security. Since only illegal aliens would need to carry such cards for identification purposes, or need them to open bank accounts, the regulations indicate that the Treasury Department is out of step with the American people and AWOL in the battle to stem the epidemic of illegal immigration”.
In addition to facilitating the ability of illegal aliens to stay in the United States, the Treasury regulations severely hamper the ability of the government to track money laundering, or accurately identify people who use the cards to open accounts.”
In short, the regulations run directly counter to the intent of Congress in approving the USA Patriot Act.”
Even more troubling is the apparent neglect by the Administration to agree on a policy regarding the level of acceptance of foreign consular identity cards like the Matricular Consular card,”said Tancredo. Many other nations including Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Poland are reported to be exploring the prospect if the Mexican cards are deemed acceptable. “Are we ready to cope with the potential security issues posed by ‘consular ID cards” issued by the governments of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, or China?"
I think most Americans expect after the events of September 11, 2001, the federal government and its regulatory agents would be at least as concerned about the safety of the nation as they are about being cheerleaders for the banking industry".
Three years later in 2006, the Federal Government is still unconcerned and Mexico's
Consular Identification Cards are selling like “hotcakes” coast to coast.
A Mexican birth certificate and thirty dollars is the only requirement. False as well as valid birth certificates are never in short supply.
The Matricular ID is accepted at Banks to open new accounts to 900 Police Departments in 14 States across the country.
Police Departments believe they have actual proof of a person’s Identity with the Mexican card.
Legal Immigrants and non-immigrants including daily legitimate Border Crossers have in their possession U.S. Government issued Immigration Registration Cards or a Valid Passport with a stamped Visa.
A Matricular Consular Identification only establishes that the bearer under whatever name he or she cares to use is “without documents” and illegally residing in the United States.
I keep in contact with many Agents across the country that are still employed as law enforcement agents with Customs and Border Protection.
One Border Patrol Agent told me he had stopped a car that was driven by an illegal alien with two female passengers. The male driver had five Matricular Consular cards with five different names and addresses in Los Angeles. Each Matricular had the man’s photo and was a legitimate card issued by the Mexican Government.
The two females also had two cards each with different names and false addresses. Numerous birth certificates were found. This happens all the time and true identities are always determined through IAFIS, fingerprints.
The Patriot Act regulations require that financial institutions implement reasonable procedures to (1) verify the identity of any person opening an account; (2) maintain records of information used to verify the person’s identity; and (3) determine whether the person appears on any list of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations.
Congressman Tom Tancredo stated in a press release May, 22, 2003 that the U.S. Treasury Department and Banking Industry acceptance of the Matricula needed to be investigated.
The Treasury Department regulations send a dangerous message about immigration enforcement and appear indifferent to a potential threat to our national security. Since only illegal aliens would need to carry such cards for identification purposes, or need them to open bank accounts, the regulations indicate that the Treasury Department is out of step with the American people and AWOL in the battle to stem the epidemic of illegal immigration”.
In addition to facilitating the ability of illegal aliens to stay in the United States, the Treasury regulations severely hamper the ability of the government to track money laundering, or accurately identify people who use the cards to open accounts.”
In short, the regulations run directly counter to the intent of Congress in approving the USA Patriot Act.”
Even more troubling is the apparent neglect by the Administration to agree on a policy regarding the level of acceptance of foreign consular identity cards like the Matricular Consular card,”said Tancredo. Many other nations including Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Poland are reported to be exploring the prospect if the Mexican cards are deemed acceptable. “Are we ready to cope with the potential security issues posed by ‘consular ID cards” issued by the governments of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, or China?"
I think most Americans expect after the events of September 11, 2001, the federal government and its regulatory agents would be at least as concerned about the safety of the nation as they are about being cheerleaders for the banking industry".
Three years later in 2006, the Federal Government is still unconcerned and Mexico's
Consular Identification Cards are selling like “hotcakes” coast to coast.
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