Semper Fi
You, Me & the Illegal Immigrates are the mice today. The Fat Cat's (CEO's & Government Official) have the CHEESE!
Sad but true...
it's all about OIL.
U.S. Coast Guard & Mexican Navy.
Posted on 05/06/2005 11:10:21 PM PDT by coffeebreak
For the first time in Ashland — and with no questions about immigration status — Mexican-born residents of the valley flocked to get a highly valued card called the matricula consular, a secure ID card that enables them to open bank accounts, get a driver’s license and start on the road to work and legal residency.
The optically scanned, photo ID cards were given to 200 locals by the Mexican consulate from Portland, whose officials travel to the main towns of Oregon once a year for that purpose.
The process took place at Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church and included a "carousel" of tables, connecting locals with vital information about taxes, employment, community college classes, police and driving in the United States.
"I’m very happy to get the card," said Vicente Sixtos of Medford, speaking through a translator from the state Department of Employment. "It’s very important, because the identification helps with police and getting credit started with a bank account."
The matricula card has been in use for more than a century and is how Mexico keeps track of its citizens abroad, as well as to serve as the most trusted proof of one’s identity, said Jo Murillo-Hannon, a bilingual driving teacher at Rogue Community College.
"If anything happens (to a Mexican citizen here) and the parents in Mexico need to look for a son or daughter, they can easily trace their loved ones," Murillo-Hannon said. "Without such a card, they may not know where their loved ones are."
Claudia Guzman of Medford, speaking through an interpreter from RCC, said her three trips to the DMV resulted in widely varying requests for documents, with the matricula finally being named as the vital, missing piece of ID.
"It’s very important," said Guzman. "You can’t get a license without it. And I’ve found out that it will definitely be accepted at Wells Fargo to open an account."
Getting a bank account is key to starting a credit history, as well as sending money to relatives in Mexico without having to pay a stiff surcharge, said RCC instructor Margaret Copeland, who teaches a bilingual course about adapting to American customs, rules and necessary documentation.
Oregon, she added, is in a small minority of states that don’t require a Social Security card to get a driver’s license. California, Arizona and many other states have set up that hoop, Copeland noted, thus producing a ripple effect of Mexican immigrants to Oregon.
Richard Glimpse of Medford contacted the Mail Tribune about the consular visit, concerned that the matricula cards are issued to Mexicans "with little or no proof of an individual’s name, date of birth or address — in other words, people who are here illegally."
Consulate official Martin Alcalia from Portland, who was issuing the cards, said determination of one’s legal status in the United States is solely the job of the INS and that "it’s not a matter for us. We just care if they are Mexicans."
Applicants for the cards must show an original birth certificate, official government ID from Mexico or Oregon and formal proof of address, such as rental receipt or utility bill, said Alcalia.
Using the Internet, an applicant’s identity is immediately confirmed with records in Mexico. The card costs $27 and is good for five years.
Matricula applicants are required to attend a Friday-night class in which they learn the rules of American culture — basic information about working, renting, banking, domestic violence even how to cross the street (pedestrians don’t have the right of way in Mexico), said Ruth Kemmy, of the state Department of Consumer and Business Services, Salem.
"Coming from Mexico, some people might think we have all the same rules here. We don’t — and no one’s going to tell them how to behave except someone who cares about them," said Kemmy, referring to the mostly bilingual, Spanish-surnamed staff of helpers.
Maria Swann, minority liaison officer for Medford police, said she often holds classes for immigrants, bringing a cop to answer questions and help them get used to the idea that they shouldn’t be scared of police.
The mobile matricula process is a big event in the Hispanic community because, otherwise, applicants must travel five hours each way to Portland to get the card, said Alcalia.
Copeland said the Latino population is widely underestimated here and a better snapshot of it is obtained by reading the number of Hispanic births in the Mail Tribune.
"We are already a bicultural community," she said. "They’re our neighbors and we need to be aware of that and accept it."
How odd.
Yeah, where's my ID card...I wanna join the USMC.
I'm white with a university education and a commercial pilot's license - and I'm not a criminal - guess I'm disqualified.
ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL.
The Matricula, when presented, should be a red flag to verify legal presence within the USA.
I'm not responsible for funding the relief of "turd-world" detritus.
Why don't we just officially cede our sovereignty? The grand experiment is officially over. The Supreme Court legislates from the bench according to world opinion vice that pesky document that so few these days understand or hold dear to their hearts. we are flooded with immigrants that have no desire to assimilate to our way of life, hell the only reason the United States of America was founded is to accommodate them. F it! We are our own worst enemy and and will cease to exist as the sovereign United States of America in twenty years unless we call BS and fight!
Let me see if I've got this straight...
Mexican GOVERNMENT officials come to the U.S. - and issue I.D. cards to ILLEGAL immigrants that Oregon accepts as sufficient to grant them a DRIVER's License..
WHAT? Didn't we already know they were Mexicans without proper documentation to legally be in the U.S.?
How in hell does the Mexican Government official know the true identity of the illegal immiagrant they are giving an I.D. card to?
Time to clean house folks -- before the mice outnumber the cats...
Semper Fi
We could stop this nonesense immediately if we wanted to. If the Secretary of the Treasury issued an order prohibiting their use as identification for banking transactions involving US banks, they would be of no use to illegal immigrants. Last I checked the federal government has the power to regulate the money supply and banking. Without banks, illegal aliens don't have a secure way to send money back home.
What a disgrace. Notice how our useless eaters in Washington DC could care less about the spread of this fraudulent Mexican ID card. They could care less about America as a sovereign nation. Our boys fight, perhaps get wounded or die in Iraq to come home to this crap?
No Muslim nation has the balls to try this in Europe with it's huge immigrant populations. Many illegal. We bend over for Mexico the way no other nation does. France doesn't let Algeria and Morocco set up shop to issue ID cards
It would also help if the state required a social security card to get a driver's license.
Looks like "Liberation Theology" is still alive and thriving in the RC Church.
(EXCEPRT)
“There’s no way around the fact that consular ID cards are ONLY needed by people who aren’t legally in the U.S. in the first place. Every non-citizen other than an illegal alien will possess identity documents issued by the U.S. government (such as a valid visa). (EMPHASIS ADDED)
In choosing to recognize the consular ID card, local governments are raising significant legal issues by exercising a form of their own foreign policy, which the Constitution reserves for the federal government under the Constitution, and are in direct conflict with federal law
Furthermore, the presentation of a consular ID card by an individual who does not also possess and present a corresponding valid document issued by the U.S. government is prima facie evidence that the person is unlawfully present in the United States. Thus, an official who provides any benefit or service in such a case would be subject to criminal liability.”
While Mexico pushes for the consular ID card’s acceptance in the U.S., no major bank in Mexico lists the card among the identification documents they accept to open an account, and only ten of Mexico’s 32 states and districts recognize the card for identification purposes.
http://www.fairus.org/ImmigrationIssueCenters/ImmigrationIssueCenters.cfm?ID=1192&c=13
As an aside:
“Claudia Guzman of Medford, speaking through an interpreter from RCC, said her three trips to the DMV resulted in widely varying requests for documents, with the matricula finally being named as the vital, missing piece of ID.
Let me guess: The drivers exam is printed in Spanish and the DVM is staffed with bi-lingual examiners?
What happens if these “undocumented workers” cannot read or write?
Let me guess: They are allowed to bring someone with them to take the test?
Thank God for small favors with the upcoming Real ID legislation. Unfortunately, it has a 3-year lag and even then, states are NOT required to implement; only that the Feebies will not allow those ID’s to be used for Fed purposes and I can see a BIG effort on behalf of “undocumented aliens” to have certain states, not participate.
You, Me & the Illegal Immigrates are the mice today. The Fat Cat's (CEO's & Government Official) have the CHEESE!
Sad but true...
it's all about OIL.
U.S. Coast Guard & Mexican Navy.
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