Measure on Consular IDs Advances

LA Times ^ | May 9, 2003 | Morain and Ingram

[LNewman]

THE STATE Measure on Consular IDs Advances * The Assembly OKs a bill to require banks and other institutions to accept the cards issued to citizens of other nations living in California.

By Dan Morain and Carl Ingram, Times Staff Writers

SACRAMENTO — The state Assembly on Thursday approved legislation that would require banks and other institutions to recognize as legitimate the identification cards that consular offices issue to their citizens who may be living in this country illegally.

Approved by a margin of 50 to 13, the bill by Assemblyman Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) requires Senate approval. That appears likely because the upper house in the past has approved more far-reaching measures that would have authorized illegal immigrants to obtain California driver's licenses.

Gov. Gray Davis has taken no position on the bill. Davis spokesman Russ Lopez said that among the issues to be considered is the ease with which such cards can be counterfeited.

The cards, generally issued by Mexico and Central and South American and Asian countries, include the person's name, birthplace, date of birth, photograph, signature and U.S. address.

The person may or may not be living in this country. To obtain such a card, people must provide a birth certificate and a second piece of identification such as a passport.

In urging lawmakers to approve the measure, Nunez emphasized that the bill "doesn't create any new entitlements." Rather, AB 25 would allow people to open bank accounts. Law enforcement also would be required to recognize the cards as legal identification.

Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia (R-Cathedral City), one of a handful of Republicans who voted for the bill, said such cards are "vital" for a variety of reasons, among them allowing police to identify illegal immigrants who are injured in car accidents.

[LNewman]

My LA Times also comes with a copy of our neighborhood daily rag. In it they publish the names of those that are arrested on suspicion of DUI. I think they should expand on features of this type to include, as a public service, a list of companies known to hire illegal immigrants.

[Pa' fuera]

More evidence that the California Legislature is nothing more than an arm of the Mexican government. This is sickening.

[norton]

And a list of people using 'consular id cards'...
and a list of people bouncing checks using consular id cards...
and a list of people arrested while carrying consular id cards..
and a list of people caught with multiple consular id cards...
and a list of people caught with both consular id and US passport...

[ancient_geezer]

Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia (R-Cathedral City), one of a handful of Republicans who voted for the bill, said such cards are "vital" for a variety of reasons, among them allowing police to identify illegal immigrants who are injured in car accidents.

One of them almost gets it!!

[itsahoot]

One of them almost gets it

Yeah, right! Ever hear of Motor Voter law?

[Kuksool]

Scott Peterson probably wished he had a consular ID card. With such a card, he could have claimed to be an "undocumented" immigrant and evade justice.

[ancient_geezer]

Motor Voter does not apply to non-citizens.

Consular Cards are prima-facia evidence of being an alien, hence no Voter registeration, unlike the no ID at all situation where virtually anyone who walks in is assumed to be a citizen.

Furthermore, without current, visa, foreign-student, etc. papers along with such cards, they become prima-facia evidence of being here illegally.

Wakeup and smell the roses, more than one illegal has been tripped up by proudly waving his branny-new Consular card at border patrol.

[LNewman]

Hey Geez ... Hi!

I managed to annoy myself into volunteering for voter poll duty in my much charity-decimated area after the primary polls opened 45 minutes late!

You shoulda seen the look on the guy's face (who came in to vote with his Korean-Vet ball cap) reading all the c*r*a*p we had to place in prominent view stating we were not allowed to ask for ID ... only proof of residence!

Not only that, but the school (4th thru 6th grade) venue boasted 73% English language LEARNERS with 100% eligible for the free lunch program!

Uh ... and, did I mention our bevy of CHARITY QUEENS!!!!! Our main princess fairly recently sent an editorial to the same neighborhood paper stating that her and her prince travelled to San Francisco for the "No War For Oil" contingent.

I would DROOL uncontrollably to know if queeny managed to make a recruiting trip or two to local missions and claim that trip as a "business" expense. She seems to think her "charity" is suck(cesspool)full because her efforts result in more and more "needy" participants each year. In the same space, I believe I would consider myself "successful" if I worked myself OUT of the "biz."

[LNewman]

Was starting small ... or mostly urgent ... but I agree!