Use of Mexican ID card under fire

MEXICO CITY - Alejandro Doran Dorado has lived in the United States so long -- 15 years -- that he's applied for legal residence.

And thanks to a Mexican government identification program, he carries an official ID card, called matrícula consular, that makes him feel almost legal today -- able to get a driver's license, open a bank account, even board an airplane in the United States.

With the card in his pocket showing his U.S. residence, he feels confident crooning ranchera songs at bars on weekends, driving a cab during the week and visiting Mexico City. Technically, he is supposed to be in the United States awaiting a decision on his application, but the card "proves" his U.S. residence even while he's in Mexico.

In the past two years, more than 1.7 million matrículas consular -- or consular registration ID cards -- have been issued to undocumented Mexicans in the United States at Mexican Consulate offices in an unprecedented recognition of their status. It's so successful that the Mexican government is targeting about 3 million other people, even installing mobile units at malls and churches in some U.S. communities.

More than 250 people went to the Mexican Consulate office in Dallas to get their matrículas Thursday. Among them was Benjamin Rosales Walle, an immigrant from the Mexican state of Tamaulipas who didn't specify his immigration status.

"I need it for proof," he said in Spanish. He hopes the card will help him open bank accounts and prove that he lives in the Dallas area.

From the spring, when the latest version of the Mexican matrículas began circulating, through late December, the Mexican Consulate in Dallas said it has issued about 70,000 cards. The Dallas office offers services to Mexican nationals in North Texas, West Texas and Arkansas.

It is accepted as legal identification by 66 U.S. banks, 801 police departments, 80 cities and 14 states, 13 of which allow it as identification to apply for a driver's license. It's recognized as a form of identification by the Dallas and Fort Worth police departments.

But not all cities and states are following suit. Citing security concerns, New York City and New York state officials said in December that they would not participate.

Mexican government and pro-immigration groups hail the ID program as a way to give Mexican workers quasi-legal status that allows them to carry on normal lives in the United States, although they can still be deported if the Immigration and Naturalization Service or Border Patrol authorities catch them.

Critics vilify it as "backdoor amnesty" that encourages illegal immigration, exploits Mexicans and subjects them to border-crossing dangers that can lead to death as they pursue the American dream.

"The matrícula is the greatest achievement of the Mexican government, and it doesn't have anything to do with the Bush administration," said Primitivo Rodriguez, a Mexican sociologist and immigration expert and author. "Mexico never talked with Bush or with Secretary of State Colin Powell or any legislators. They talked to banks."

The program became a priority for Mexico after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when security was tightened at border checkpoints and airports, and progress toward an immigration accord with the United States stalled.

"Since Sept. 11, there was a huge increase in matrículas. Now, they [U.S. authorities] ask for the identification cards more. ... We were promoting it. We think it's better," said Juan José Salgado, the Mexican consul in Dallas.

Although various registration and identification card programs have been in place since the early 1900s, what's new is that Mexican nationals are using these cards to help prevent abuses -- not having an identification card makes immigrants vulnerable to check cashing scams. It is also handy when people are asked to prove their identity, Salgado said.

The U.S. government has nothing to do with matrículas, and hasn't commented on the program. In fact, Mexican government officials bypassed their U.S. counterparts when they began their latest push to promote matrículas.

Last April, the Mexican Consulate in Austin ap-proached Wells Fargo Bank -- the first of many banks -- for an agreement that would allow Mexicans immigrants who hold consular identification cards to open bank accounts.

Mexicans send home an estimated $16 million a day, which some experts say could surpass oil exports as the country's biggest revenue source. Before the matrícula, a Mexican who was sending money home would pay up to $40 for the transaction. Now, he or she can do the same through an automated teller machine for a nominal fee.

The matrícula, a slick-looking identification card with photograph, address and date of birth, makes life easier in the United States. The fear of being arrested on nonimmigration offenses has diminished, now that cardholders have proper photo IDs. They can often obtain driver's licenses in some states so they can drive without fear of going to jail if they commit a traffic violation. They can open bank accounts and rent apartments. The card also serves as identification to install electricity, water and gas, check out library books and even participate in city hall meetings.

"With this identification, this year we've achieved, for the first time, an official assurance that allows ... regardless of legal status, the ability to carry out indispensable activities like boarding an airplane ... or using the library, or renting a video," Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda said in his annual report on Mexican foreign policy last week.

Or as Doran, 55, simply put it: "Before I got the card, I was always looking over my shoulder."

A group in Omaha, Neb., called Friends of Immigration Law Enforcement is fighting the matrícula, saying it encourages illegal immigration and dangerous attempts to cross the border. Director Craig Nelsen described the organization as an association of volunteer lawyers, immigration experts, academics and others representing 14 states.

They have told banks and other institutions the card is illegal, violates the Constitution -- on the grounds that only the U.S. government has the authority to issue legally accepted documents -- and makes institutions that accept it subject to criminal and civil liability.

"The Mexican government has every right to issue any card. What we're against is that U.S. institutions accept it as a form of valid ID, when the majority [of cardholders] are illegal" immigrants, Nelsen said.

So far, no court has ruled on whether local governments can legally recognize the matrícula without the approval of the federal government.

Mexico estimates that some 10 million Mexicans live in the United States illegally. The government hopes that in two years or less, they will all have matrículas.

Doran is typical of many undocumented workers. Al-though he has lived in the United States for 15 years, he returns often to see his family in Torreon, in northern Coahuila state, an arid mountainous region where small agricultural life is dying. Doran's comings and goings meant illegal and dangerous crossings. With his matrícula, he said, he got on a plane back to Mexico a year ago while a lawyer tries to win him legal residency in Los Angeles.

Doran has worked at such jobs in the United States as washing dishes, running a pool hall and digging holes for planting crops. He says he deserves to become a U.S. resident; he has years of receipts, pay stubs and documents showing that he has paid taxes and Social Security, obligations of any American, but which Doran cannot claim because he is an illegal immigrant.

"I paid dearly for my identification," he said. "I lived and worked in Los Angeles since I was a young man. I even got married there."

Doran is tired of dodging authorities, tired of being deported and tired of the perils of crossing the border. But it is unclear whether the new program will eventually help him get what he wants: full legal U.S. status.

"Once, I almost died. It was hot. I ran out of water. The soles of my shoes wore out and my feet bled. I was hungry, thirsty and dirty. I thought, 'This time, I'm going to die,' " he said of one of his trips across the U.S.-Mexico border. "I walked for more than three days, and when I got to San Diego, I was caught and deported. I crossed again the next day; this time I wasn't arrested. Oh, the stories I could tell. Isn't America made of people like me?"

What a crime that our state and federal governments turn their backs on this Mexican "Matricular Card" sham, and let Vicente Fox dictate our immigration policy! Lets not forget this at election time when GWB (one of the biggest panderers to Mexicans) is up for re-election. Let Americans dictate our immigration policy and foreign affairs.

I was at a bar which listed the documents it would accept as proof of age. It specifically stated the matricula would NOT be accepted. What does a bar know about this document that US jurisdictions don't? If I were a terrorist I would be printing these bogus matriculas and getting drivers licenses in US states.

After 9-11 I thought states adopted a common standard and would only accept certain primary documents for drivers licenses. What burden is it for a Mexican to show a birth certificate? None. If I got a drivers license (without already having one), I'd have to show one. Why can't they be expected to even follow the same basic rules as I?

>It's so successful that the Mexican government is targeting about 3 million other people, even installing mobile units at malls and churches in some U.S. communities.

And the Mexican govt validates the identity of a person at a walk up booth in mall how? The terrorists are going to be working this for all its worth.

"Doran has worked at such jobs in the United States as washing dishes, running a pool hall and digging holes for planting crops. He says he deserves to become a U.S. resident; he has years of receipts, pay stubs and documents showing that he has paid taxes and Social Security, obligations of any American, but which Doran cannot claim because he is an illegal immigrant."

Whose Social Security number did he use?

"The matrícula is the greatest achievement of the Mexican government, and it doesn't have anything to do with the Bush administration,"

this is the part i don`t agree with,no thank you to the bush administration,that let it be,
the stupid idea of creating another mexico and not of becoming"americans".

A birth certificate itself is not even much proof of anything.
They can easily be "made" on a decent black & white copy machine by a sixth grader. The whole point is: Mr. Doran has been residing here illegally for many years and it is time for him to be deported.

Bump That. Mexico is leading our Government around by the nose and all we get in Washington is silence.

Mexico now sets policy for the United States. They have opened our borders and defied our laws. Their citizens steal tens of billions of dollars per year in goods and services from the American public. Don't believe me, just as ole George!

This guy probably doesn't have much more than a fourth grade education, so I can't expect him to understand this. The truth is he has been receiving free healthcare and other services any time he demanded them. You and I can't do that. If he was clever he received housing subsidies, food stamps and welfare.

I know of a lady who has three children. Dad is nowhere to be found. She has been here about ten years. She gets housing subsidies, food stamps and welfare. She doesn't work. One of her children does, and supplies additional funding. She has obtained significant healthcare services at our expense. Her children are all in school. She has seldom worked since coming here. She has a drug problem and a liquor problem.

There isn't a single reason in the world why I as a US citizen should put up with this. It is irrational. It is sick. I am sick if I put up with this abuse.

The Administration of George Bush is seriously fu--ed up if it thinks this is something it should support. But support it, it does. Bush is an a--ho-- on this issue.

Their citizens steal tens of billions of dollars per year in goods and services from the American public

Another good point.... I thought our nation had strict laws governing the flow of currency out of our country?
Last time I flew an international flight, I recall something stating to the effect that I could not take more than $5,000 in U.S. currency outside our borders without making "special arrangements" (taxes or fees?). How many billions of our dollars are flowing un-checked into the Mexican economy?

'This time, I'm going to die,' " he said of one of his trips across the U.S.-Mexico border. "I walked for more than three days, and when I got to San Diego, I was caught and deported. I crossed again the next day; this time I wasn't arrested. Oh, the stories I could tell. Isn't America made of people like me?"

No. But more and more yes ---it seems the new America Bush wants to have.

Mexico now sets policy for the United States.

You really have to wonder why. Ever since Mexico became the world's major drug lord it seems to have some strange power over our politicians. Like they're now afraid to stand up to any Mexican politician and tell them no or to back off.

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