Mexican ID card event sparks protest- Critics say cards help illegal immigrants

the Springfield news

Recognized by the city in 2004 as a form of identification for Mexican nationals, the Matricular Consular card is stirring debate -- some of it quite lively.

The ID card allows Mexican-born residents to open bank accounts and get driver's licenses. But opponents say the Matricula Consular is allowing illegal immigrants a foothold.

"Legal immigrants have ID. They don't need foreign-issued ID -- that's absolutely crazy," said Rick Hickey, vice president for Oregonians for Immigration Reform.

Members of OFIR, along with the Oregon Republican Assembly and Coos County Caucus, gathered at St. Alice Catholic Church Saturday in protest of issuing the ID cards.

Once per year, Mexican Consulate officials travel from Portland to towns throughout the state to help Mexican citizens file the necessary paperwork to get their IDs.

The card is issued to Mexicans who have lived in Oregon at least six months and provides a form of identification for Mexican aliens living in the United States. Why bother to the legal when you can just hide out for six months, get an ID card and not have to go through all the hassles of being a citizen

The Mexican government has issued the card for more than 100 years. A growing number of cities -- including Hillsboro, Beaverton, Woodburn and recently Ashland -- and police departments accept the card for identification purposes.

States like Oregon, Utah, Washington and Idaho, among others, allow the cards to be used to obtain a driver's license. Banks such as Wells Fargo, Bank of America and US Bank accept the IDs to open accounts.

Rick Hickey, vice president for Oregonians for Immigration Reform, said he anticipates even more protestors at the next mobile consulate visit as opposition to the ID cards continues.

"A foreign government should not be issuing a foreign ID. They don't have access to our criminal records," Hickey said. "We can't have that in this day of terrorism, identity theft and meth problems."
Consulate officials require a birth certificate, government ID and formal proof of address, such as a bill, Sanchez said. Officials then confirm the applicant's identity with records in Mexico.

Hickey said the cards issued help illegal aliens, which is a violation of federal immigration law. He said that government services represented at the fair are in violation of that law.

Garcia said the agencies are there to provide information only and the consulate is the sole provider of the ID cards. The consulate provides other services, such as renewing passports, as well.

You are still aiding and abetting felons.

We as a society should not be supporting this however we are doing just the opposite. We are creating libraries that exclude English-speaking people.
We are creating jobs that that excludes English-speaking people.