Illegal Aliens Can Use ID Cards

County: Consulate proof of identity still OK; D.A. cites security concerns.

January 15, 2003
By Michelle Rester, Staff writer

Mexicans living in the United States illegally can continue to open bank accounts, get library cards, receive county services and report crimes in Los Angeles County with the use of an identification card from the Mexican Consulate.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to allow departments to continue accepting the Matricula Consular Identification Cards as proper identification on a temporary basis.

The program will stay as a pilot program for another year before it is re-evaluated. In the meantime, however, it faces opposition from county Supervisor Michael Antonovich and the district attorney. The two say they worry about security issues, given the cards are issued by the Mexican government and do not include fingerprints, criminal background checks or sufficient verification.

"In light of serious problems we've had in security, it's really dropping our defenses,' Antonovich said. "You are recognizing those who are here illegally and that's Pandora's Box.'

Janice Maurizi, a director in the county's district attorney's office, says the cards give a form of legitimacy to people living here illegally. She emphasized the cards are not accepted by immigration officials and could allow criminals from Mexico to endanger our public safety.

"What is to prevent a terrorist coming in from Mexico, opening a bank account and laundering al- Qaida money?' Maurizi asked.

An Egyptian national who butchered a 12-year-old boy in La Habra came into California via Mexico, she said, and the country has long provided a safe haven for criminals.

The ambassador from the Mexican Consulate, however, said there have been no problems reported in connection with the cards. About 160,000 Mexicans in Los Angeles were issued the identification cards in 2002. About 1.2 million were issued nationwide.

"They have been issuing IDs to our people who have been coming here for more than 100 years for jobs,' Ambassador Martha Lara said.

The identification cards are just that, said county Supervisor Gloria Molina, who disagreed the cards would be used for anything other than matching a face and name to perform regular tasks like signing children up for Little League, reporting fires, domestic violence and other crimes, as well as opening bank accounts to avoid risky and expensive cash living.

"I think for a long time many of these individuals have been invisible in this process,' Molina said.

The use of the cards will come back to the Board of Supervisors for review next year.

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