FBI Criticizes Mexican Consular I.D. Cards

Los Angeles Times ^ | 6/26/03 - 1352 PT | Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar

[Tancredo Fan]

FBI Criticizes Mexican Consular I.D. Cards

The cards, held by more than a million immigrants in Califoria and elswhere, are prone to fraudulent use, the agency tells Congress.

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar
Times Staff Writer

1:52 PM PDT, June 26, 2003

WASHINGTON - The FBI told a congressional panel today that the Mexican consular identification card used by more than 1 million immigrants in California and elsewhere is prone to fraudulent use by criminals and possibly terrorists.

"The Department of Justice and the FBI have concluded that the matricula consular is not a reliable form of identification," said Steven McCraw, assistant director of the FBI's intelligence office. "As a result of these problems, there are ... major criminal threats posed by the cards and (a) potential terrorist threat."

Resembling a driver's license and displaying the bearer's address in the United States, the cards are accepted as valid identification by more than 70 banks, 800 police departments and numerous local governments, including the city of Los Angeles. The California Legislature is considering measures that would require statewide acceptance.

McCraw's testimony brought into the open a debate within the Bush administration, as it struggles to develop a government-wide policy on consular identifications.

Currently, they are not valid for admittance to federal buildings but can be used to board an airline flight. Within the administration, the departments of State and Treasury have taken a tolerant view of the cards, while the FBI is raising strong concerns. The Homeland Security Department is voicing some reservations.

[FITZ]

you never did answer my question--do illegals buy insurance in the united states?

I'm sure hardly any do ---but believe it or not I know one that does. Not health insurance though ---just auto insurance. Most of the hit-and-runs around here are accidents caused by an illegal without insurance who doesn't feel like being caught and deported.

[FITZ]

That raises an interesting question: Can a Mexican holding a matricula open an account with a Mexican bank. My guess would be no, because the physical address on the document is the illegal's US address.

I'm not sure Mexico allows any of it's lower class to have bank accounts. The matricula care isn't used at all in Mexico ---they already had an identification system they use ----birth certificates and the IFE card --- sometimes Guatemalans are picked up that way ----they will sometimes purchase a fake birth certificate but if the Mexican police looking for illegals look for the IFE card. The matricula card is useless in Mexico.

[FITZ]

when we go to mexico we immediately buy auto insurance. do illegals buy american auto insurance to drive on american roads?

Possibly some with fraudulent papers might ---depending how strict the state they're in is about it but also if you're already using stolen and fraudulent documents, most likely you're going to do the same with insurance ---just use false proofs of insurance you present if stopped.

[liberalnot]

i would like to see relief for consumers and taxpayers.

i would like to see everyone on the highways paying insurance. the more the merrier. the more insured, the lower our expenses.