Matricula Consular
The Matricula Consular card is an identification document issued by the Mexican government. Despite its high susceptibility to fraud, many U.S. institutions (particularly banks) accept the matricula consular as a valid form of ID. Since illegal aliens are the only people who would need this card, these institutions make it easier for illegal aliens to settle in the U.S.
The law states:
"Any individual or entity that “encourages or induces an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law” is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment. §274"
A strong case could be made that localities that are using taxpayer funds to build and promote day‐labor sites for aliens they know to be illegal, and government entities like the Illinois Housing Development Authority, which has set aside taxpayer funds to provide mortgages to illegal aliens, are “encourag[ing illegal aliens] to reside in the United States.” The same case can be made against banks that accept consular ID cards to open accounts or allow illegal aliens to use individual taxpayer ID numbers to get home loans.-- NumbersUSA
Mexican Consulate ID Card Poses Security Threat - from Republican Policy Committee Report, July 2003.
- The FBI and Department of Justice have concluded that the matricula consular card “is not a reliable form of identification” and poses criminal and terrorist threats. (Testimony of Steve McCraw, Assistant Director of Intelligence, Federal Bureau of Investigation, before the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims, June 26, 2003.)
- The only people who need matricula consular cards are illegal aliens. According to the FBI, virtually all other non-U.S. citizens have some other, more secure, form of identification, such as a passport or a green card. (Testimony of Steve McCraw, June 26, 2003.)
- The government of Mexico has no centralized database to coordinate the issuance of consular cards – making it possible for multiple cards to be issued under the same name, the same address, or with the same photograph.
- The government of Mexico has no interconnected databases to allow it to verify who has or has not applied for or received a consular ID card.
- In some locations, when an individual seeking a matricula is unable to produce any documents whatsoever, he may still be issued a matricula by the Mexican consular official, so long as he fills out a questionnaire and satisfies the official
that he is who he purports to be. - The matricula is a perfect “breeder” document for establishing a false identity.