Matricula Consular

Some References on the Matricula Consular

May 5, 2012

1. Federation for American Immigration Reform. Mexican Matricula Consular ID cards. 2003. 2 p.

Contents: Aiding illegal immigration, National security risks, Legal liability, Dangerous precedent.

2. Dinerstein, Marti. IDs for illegals; the ‘matricula consular’ advances Mexico’s immigration agenda. 2003. 11 p.

Summary of the report at:http://www.cis.org/node/484

Among the findings in the report: "The matricula consular is useful in the United States only for illegal aliens, because legal immigrants, by definition, have U.S. government-issued documents."

3. Durham, NC to accept Mexican document as ID. (In FAIR’s Legislative Update, Nov. 22, 2010.)

2-page report, by FAIR, of action by the Durham NC City Council, with background on the matricula consular, its limitations, and links to pertinent sources.

4. Wikipedia.Matricula consular. 2 p.

A useful summary, with list of 18 references cited and linked.

5. U.S. Immigration Support. Matricula consular. 2 p.

Another helpful summary, compiled by a business that calls itself "Your online guide to U.S. visas, green cards and citizenship."

6. Mexico. U.S. Consulate. The Matricula Consular.

Gives requirements to obtain a matricula consular, secondary requirements, procedure followed when issuing, data capturing, etc.

7. U.S. General Accountability Office. Border security: Consular identification cards accepted within United States, but consistent Federal guidance needed. (GAO-04-881) August 2004. 51 p.

Page 50 displays a letter to the GAO from C. Stewart Verdery, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning, Border and Transportation Security Directorate, Department of Homeland Security. The letter concludes:

"This draft report suggests incorrectly that the Administration has no clear position on CIDs. It is well established that foreign consular ID cards do not establish or indicate lawful U.S. immigration status and should not be viewed as valid for that purpose, nor do they establish a foreign national’s right to be or remain in the United States. This is a clear and settled position.

"Finally, it is important to note that DHS does not recognize CIDs as valid travel documents and CIDs are not accepted for that purpose at the more than 300 ports-of-entry where Customs and Border Protection officers screen travelers seeking admission to the United States."

8. National Conference of State Legislatures. Consulate identification cards. April 28, 2004.

Contents: What are the requirements, Federal action, Financial institutions, Law enforcement, State and local government.

9. Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform.   The Mexican matricula consular (illegal alien) ID card is now illegal in Colorado!

Describes the law passed in CO in 2003, gives its history, and related information.

10. Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform.   The Mexican matricula consular (illegal alien) ID card: Activist Toolkit.

An outline of the successful efforts made by Colorado activists to ban use of the matricula consular, designed to show how other states can do likewise.