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.

[Tancredo Fan]

Now will the feds get off their butts and ban these bogus things nationwide?

[Tancredo Fan]

A 'Bogus Mexican ID' PING!

[dagnabbit]

Unlikely, if its State Dept was down in Mexico negotiating deployment terms for this extra-legal stealth amnesty.

[heleny]

Glad the FBI and Homeland Security realize the propensity for abuse and fraud, and I hope they convince Congress or the executive branch to do something.

Last I heard, we still require all aliens (including permanent residents) to carry proof of legal presence at all times. If we enforce those laws, the consular card won't be so useful.

[liberalnot]

it's a BIG mistake to accept any foreign document for domestic use!

i'd rather see them use american drivers' licenses.

[sarcasm]

"As a result of these problems, there are ... major criminal threats posed by the cards and (a) potential terrorist threat."
but can be used to board an airline flight

[Tancredo Fan]

i'd rather see them use american drivers' licenses.

I agree.... that is unless said license was issued by a state that routinely issues licenses to invading illegals, and/or the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Utah and New Mexico. These states take the scurvy Mexican ID card as valid ID when applying for a license. Remember, only illegal aliens need these phony things, and Mexico is a hostile ditch of a nation that is corrupt to the core.

[autoresponder]

We do not enforce those laws.

For example, if the INS has less then 15 illegal aliens reported to them they end up ignoring it as being "unproductive".

Often in NYC and other areas, Illegal are given paperwork and told to report in to INS and released on the street.

Typical alias trick in NYC and CT is to swap the first and last names, uses cousins or brothers names, etc.

Many have 5-8 IDs.

Another old trick for hispanics is to obtain phoney birth certificates from Puerto Rico.

Instant US citizenship, instant rights, instant benefits, instant access with racial preferences to U of Michigan law school, Duke Medical School, or any business hiring, including government.

Doris Meissner, Clinton's INS honcho said illegal aliens were "not a priority" in a televised press interview.

Ziglar, the new INS chief is not much better, but the heat from 9-11 and Homeland Security has forced him to move a little.

District INC heads are notorious for ignoring Federal law and acting in a liberal political agenda, expecially in California.

[liberalnot]

and insurance would be required.

so taxpayers and consumers would benefit.

[Sabertooth]

"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."

McCraw could not be reached for further comment, as he is on leave pending a sensitivity audit and retraining.

[Dutchy]

Ping!!

[concentric circles]

[Kuksool]

{"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."}

God help us if society deems those statements to be racist. Political Correctness is going to be the death of America.

[dennisw]

These sham IDs are an insult. 25 years ago Mexico would have been laughed at for trying to pull such a stunt. Would have been denied.

[txdoda]

The Homeland Security Department is voicing some reservations.>>>>>>

Darn, you mean 'somebody' in HSD put down their crayons, plastic, and duct tape and finally decided to 'voice reservations' about these phony ID's ???

Geeez, mexico claims they have issued about a million of these cards, and several other countries are planning to *come here* & I.D. their illegals, it's past time for SOMEONE in DC to speak-up.

Citizens & legal immigrants (in the USA) must be identified by the US gov't.

Why allow MILLIONS of illegals to be identified by *any* corrupt gov't that brings their 'card making kit' to the USA ??

[Sabertooth]

What do you want to bet that the unreliability of the Mexican IDs becomes a rationale for Amnesty?

"That way, we can seperate the law-abiding Illegals from the terrorists."

[Crusader21stCentury]

IS IT TIME YET?

[Fixit]

That's the old design, the new ones look a bit more like this:

They really do now look a lot more like my fake above, but they are pretty easy to get with almost no real proof or documentation of any kind. All the security features in the world don't mean a thing when the gates to access the ID are wide open.

[Tancredo Fan]

Time to light 'em up, you mean? Here's a start.....

The showdown is a-coming, I suspect. And soon, too.

[upchuck]

A simple three step process:

1. Close the borders NOW, using troops or National Guard as necessary.
2. Enforce ALL INS laws and regulations.
3. Deport ALL criminal aliens ASAP.

Oh, and quit calling them illegal aliens. They are in this country without permission. They are CRIMINAL aliens.

IMHO, this is one of the biggest problems this country has right now.