Controversial ID cards to be issued to Mexican immigrants
Posted: Tuesday, September 20, 2005
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- More than 200 immigrants in Iowa could get identifications cards from the Mexican Consulate in Omaha next month, enabling them to obtain access to bank accounts, enroll in libraries and board airplanes. The Mexican officials will also hand out 30 passports to applicants.
The Mexican government offers the ID cards called matricular consular to its citizens living in the United States, whether they are here legally or not.
Opponents said the cards flout U.S. laws by giving illegal immigrants access to services they should not have and provides a loophole that could be used by terrorists.
Tickets that will enable the holder to get a card on Oct. 1 will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis on Saturday.
"It's a great benefit to have the card," said Lilia Tinajero of Des Moines, who used her card to open an account at Wells Fargo Bank. "Before, you couldn't open bank accounts for not having an ID, and now you can. It makes you feel more secure."
Des Moines resident Richard Miller, 60, opposes ID cards that allow undocumented immigrants to gain access to banking and other services. He criticized the businesses that accept the cards.
"I don't feel that we should cater to them like we do," he said. "It's just not right."
U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, has voted against legislation on the use of the matricula consular and has said the cards can be forged, used fraudulently or used by terrorists.
The card shows the date of birth, photograph and the address of the card holder.
Miller said the cards help people who are here illegally, which is unfair to those who follow the law.
"I was born and raised here. They expect me to obey the law," Miller said. "Why should they get by?"
Consul of Mexico Jose Luis Cuevas said the card has no connection to the legal status of the holder.
"It has nothing to do with immigration," he said.
The ID card costs $27 and are valid for five years. To get the card, the applicant must provide a birth certificate and another government-issued form of identification from Mexico, such as a driver's license, voter card or military identification card.
Some larger cities such as Chicago are beginning to issue more passports than consular cards because of the U.S. Real ID Act, which would prevent state legislatures from issuing driver's licenses to people who aren't U.S. citizens or lawful residents, Cuevas said.
The act contains language that states a passport can be used as a means to validate identity, but foreign documents cannot.
The act hasn't "ruled out the use of the consular identification card; however, they do make mention of foreign passports, so possibly that's one of the reasons why people are obtaining them," Cuevas said.
Ann Naffier, an immigration specialist with the American Friends Service Committee, which will host the Des Moines event, said she is concerned the consulate is not providing enough cards.
More than 1,500 people have stood in line to get the card during past consulate visits to Des Moines, she said.
"An identification card is a good thing," she said. "It helps you know who you're dealing with."
Cuevas said that officials will issue fewer cards than in past visits and that issuing the cards will take longer because officials are improving the authenticity of the cards by using a nationwide computer database to verify the identities of card-seekers.
The Mexican government offers the ID cards called matricular consular to its citizens living in the United States, whether they are here legally or not.
Opponents said the cards flout U.S. laws by giving illegal immigrants access to services they should not have and provides a loophole that could be used by terrorists.
Tickets that will enable the holder to get a card on Oct. 1 will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis on Saturday.
"It's a great benefit to have the card," said Lilia Tinajero of Des Moines, who used her card to open an account at Wells Fargo Bank. "Before, you couldn't open bank accounts for not having an ID, and now you can. It makes you feel more secure."
Des Moines resident Richard Miller, 60, opposes ID cards that allow undocumented immigrants to gain access to banking and other services. He criticized the businesses that accept the cards.
"I don't feel that we should cater to them like we do," he said. "It's just not right."
U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, has voted against legislation on the use of the matricula consular and has said the cards can be forged, used fraudulently or used by terrorists.
The card shows the date of birth, photograph and the address of the card holder.
Miller said the cards help people who are here illegally, which is unfair to those who follow the law.
"I was born and raised here. They expect me to obey the law," Miller said. "Why should they get by?"
Consul of Mexico Jose Luis Cuevas said the card has no connection to the legal status of the holder.
"It has nothing to do with immigration," he said.
The ID card costs $27 and are valid for five years. To get the card, the applicant must provide a birth certificate and another government-issued form of identification from Mexico, such as a driver's license, voter card or military identification card.
Some larger cities such as Chicago are beginning to issue more passports than consular cards because of the U.S. Real ID Act, which would prevent state legislatures from issuing driver's licenses to people who aren't U.S. citizens or lawful residents, Cuevas said.
The act contains language that states a passport can be used as a means to validate identity, but foreign documents cannot.
The act hasn't "ruled out the use of the consular identification card; however, they do make mention of foreign passports, so possibly that's one of the reasons why people are obtaining them," Cuevas said.
Ann Naffier, an immigration specialist with the American Friends Service Committee, which will host the Des Moines event, said she is concerned the consulate is not providing enough cards.
More than 1,500 people have stood in line to get the card during past consulate visits to Des Moines, she said.
"An identification card is a good thing," she said. "It helps you know who you're dealing with."
Cuevas said that officials will issue fewer cards than in past visits and that issuing the cards will take longer because officials are improving the authenticity of the cards by using a nationwide computer database to verify the identities of card-seekers.
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AMY wrote on Apr 15, 2008 8:42 AM: