Posted on 03/08/2002 9:04:15 PM PST by Buffalo Bob
An identity card routinely issued by the Mexican Consulate to citizens living in Houston will be considered official identification by Houston police officers.
"Houston police officers are encountering these people on a daily basis -- whether it is as a witness, whether it is as a victim or in some cases as a suspect," Police Chief C.O. Bradford said this week. "I welcome this card as a proof of identification."
More than 130,000 Mexicans living in the Houston area have been issued the document, called a "matricular card." The cards are similar to those often issued by U.S. diplomatic officials to Americans living overseas.
Houston is the first major city in the nation to acknowledge the matricular card as a legitimate proof of identity, said Enrique Buj-Flores, the Mexican consul general in Houston.
"It allows the Houston Police Department to know that these are Mexican nationals and that they have been recognized by the Mexican state through its consular representation," Buj-Flores said.
Because their immigration status may be in question, some Mexican citizens have no valid U.S. forms of identification, such as a driver's license.
"These are not vagrants. They are not loitering. They are hard-working citizens," Buj-Flores said.
Bradford said the document, however, doesn't grant the bearer any diplomatic privilege or is it a "get-out-of-jail-free card."
"It does not exempt anyone as far as them being held responsible for a crime," Bradford said. "It does assist us in determining the proper identity of many of the individuals that Houston police officers come into contact with on a day-to-day basis."
Several area banks also have signed up with the program, Buj-Flores said, and will allow Mexican citizens to open checking accounts using the matricular card as identification.
State Sen. Mario Gallegos Jr., D-Houston, called the decision by city officials and area banks to recognize the matricular card a step in the right direction.
"It is an innovative way for the business community to interact with the Mexican nationals who are here," Gallegos said. "That's a pool out there that hasn't been tapped. They have money and they are willing to spend it and put it in the bank."
Police officials are betting that a more widespread recognition of the matricular card will help cut down on crime. Bradford said almost half of all robbery victims in the Houston area speak Spanish.
Although some victims may fear coming forward because of their legal status in the United States, Bradford said his officers do not work for the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
"We do not get involved in citizenship status checks," he said.
Buj-Flores said officers will not share information with U.S. officials. "The data bank is confidential. It is something that the Mexican national voluntarily gives to the consulate," he said.
No clairvoyance necessary... Such threads are getting hard to avoid.
There is much bipartisan treachery afoot, as our foolhardy politicians ignore the will of the people and proceed with their craven Surrender to the colonistas..
Yes.
When they offer the Mexican ID, didn't they just self-incriminate?
Yes.
Here comes the ACLU!
The next step is not to ask because we are all "Citizens of the Earth." Just ask Mr. Strong.
Heartwarming.
They aren't citizens in the US.
I just heard a similar story from an Asian American..here since age 3..she talks with a noticible NY accent..her license had just expired ..but they ended up taking her student ID
There will be so much fraud with these "offical" Mexican ID's..that the Arabs will have them
Pathetic!
Just not of citizens of America. They're illegal colonistas,, and should be summarily deported with total asset forfeiture to the INS.
Do not confuse them with facts.They like us are members of the "New World Order"
Well who the hell DO they work for, Mr. Big Bad Bradford? Do you cut loose bank robbers because your officers don't work for the FBI?
All of these police departments engaging in this sham are guilty of willful complicity in a crime. The matricula is prima facie evidence of a federal crime. So accepting it is to participate in the crime.
I thought Texas had tough guys, not lay-downs.
There is a reason for that. They are criminals
"These are not vagrants. They are not loitering. They are hard-working citizens," Buj-Flores said.
They are worse than that! They are criminals
Bradford said the document, however, doesn't grant the bearer any diplomatic privilege or is it a "get-out-of-jail-free card."
Then why are these people not in jail?
"It does not exempt anyone as far as them being held responsible for a crime," Bradford said. "It does assist us in determining the proper identity of many of the individuals that Houston police officers come into contact with on a day-to-day basis."
So on a day to day basis these criminals have contact with police. Why? They are criminals and they need to start being treated as such and not rewarded.
Translated, that means that there are more than 130,000 Mexican illegal aliens living in the Houston area.
Such as the crime of being in the United States illegally?
State Sen. Mario Gallegos Jr., D-Houston, called the decision by city officials and area banks to recognize the matricular card a step in the right direction.
I guess it's not too surprising to hear a state legislator with a Hispanic surname approve of the Houston police's decision to accept the Mexican ID card.
substitute "one economic zone" for "one nation state," and then you're cookin' with grease. Thanks for the ping HP
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