APPLYING FOR IDENTIFICATION: Mexican nationals gather Saturday to meet with officials from the Mexican Consulate in Dallas and apply for passports and matriculas, or identification cards. (Staff Photo By Tom Worner)
Posted on 07/25/2005 4:24:07 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Hundreds of Mexican citizens lined up outside the Hispanic Service Center to apply for identification cards and passports on Saturday, as representatives from the Mexican Consulate in Dallas came to Tyler to accept applications.
Representative Hugo Juarez said the visit is part of the consulate's outreach program to "provide services we normally provide in Dallas."
"The idea is to bring the service closer to their homes," Juarez said, explaining that it allows Mexicans to apply in a short time, without having to miss work. Otherwise, applicants would have to travel to Dallas, losing one or two days' salary.
Juarez said the program seeks to visit several large cities in the Dallas consulate's 120-county jurisdiction.
Applicants are vying for one of two documents: the matricula (identification papers) or a Mexican passport. Juarez said there are three application requirements: proof of identity, proof of Mexican citizenship and proof of address.
Adriana Escoto, Jacksonville, agreed with several mothers when she said she is applying for a matricula so her daughter could attend school.
An intern with the consulate, Alba Montes, explained that schools require these papers for Mexican children to attend.
The matricula also enables Mexican citizens to open bank accounts, many of which now recognize the document as a proper form of identification.
Juarez said having a matricula also aids police officers by providing official identification.
The passport serves as "a seal to go back and forth between the United States and Mexico," Juarez said, adding that Mexican citizens can even visit Canada without a visa.
Maria Flores said she wanted a matricula to get her children into school. Through a translator, she said she first moved to Texas because "here, they have more opportunities."
Five hundred matriculas were available to Saturday's applicants, and 40 passports were on hand.
The Mexican Consulate in Dallas issues 200 to 250 matriculas on an average day, Juarez said.
Lindsay Randall covers Henderson and Van Zandt counties. She can be reached at 903.596.6284. e-mail: news@tylerpaper.com
Sure, you can have your id card as soon as we get three things:
1. A photo
2. Your fingerprints
3. A few pieces of your hair
There were protests, however! The Consulate staff limited to three the number of official identity cards that any one applicant in Tyler could buy. Some felt that with the risks of being arrested with no liability insurance, stealing or driving a stolen SUV, trafficing in dope or other illegals being so high, that it was unreasonable to limit official IDs to three.
Ping!
ping
Mexico tells us to stay out of its business, yet we let Mexico run our immigration policies. Who's in charge here? We all know the answer to that.
Of course this is from the Internet. It quite likely is not the official or current version.
But is there any thing in the official version like Article 55? I wonder.
Article 55
RESPECT FOR THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE RECEIVING STATE
1. Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.
2. The consular premises shall not be used in any manner incompatible with the exercise of consular functions.
3. The provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article shall not exclude the possibility of offices of other institutions or agencies being installed in part of the building in which the consular premises are situated, provided that the premises assigned to them are separate from those used by the consular post. In that event, the said offices shall not, for the purposes of the present Convention, be considered to form part of the consular premises.
[End of quote]
And people wonder why we "pick on" Mexico.
Because the meddling SOBs of the corrupt government of Mexico are disgusting pests!
The Mexican Consular Office in Austin goes out once a month in the Austin area to surrounding towns for the same purpose. They almost always go to a Catholic church which provides the facility usage for free. They are very nice to their people (unlike the way government officials in Mexico treat the people there) and bend over backswards to give them matricula cards, passports, etc. that they need. This obviously part of a larger plan to garner the support of the Mexican people by Vincente Fox's party in Mexico. Brilliant plan and it IS working.
Yep, they can sign up and get all kinds of welfare.
One thing that really chaps me is that our REPUBLICAN government insisted on giving ILLEGALS in-state college tuition rates, as well as FINANTIAL AID.
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
they'll issue them a document which opens the door to many benefits in the US, but they won't issue them a voter card (for Mexican elections), denying them the most basic Democratic right. It shows that the Mexican government really cares about the revenue-generating capacity of its expats, but that's about all.
I'll give Mexico credit for being bold - but this whole scheme should have gone nowhere. Our pathetic leaders have allowed it to go forward.
Oh yes. Get sick, then try and obtain some kind of public health coverage. Try and get some help for your kids to attend community college. What's next, free car insurance?
This totally sucks....
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