Matricula Consular cards

Summary (posts follow):

The "Matricula Consular" is an ID card issued by the Mexican government to their citizens. It's actually an old form of ID that wasn't often used until recently, when that government decided to give it to the millions of illegal aliens from Mexico who live in the U.S. in order to make it easier for them to send their money home via remittances. That government then began a campaign to get banks, municipalities and others to accept their cards as ID. Make no mistake about it: these cards are almost entirely simply "IDs for illegal aliens". Legal immigrants have no use for the card since they have legally-obtained identification which they're required to carry.

The Mexican government - and their U.S. enablers - are generally coy about the use of the cards and will only say that they're given out without checking someone's immigration status. However, one of their consular officials did admit what their real purpose was.

Last modified Dec 15, 2008

Discussed in (click each link for the full post):

"Bank on Los Angeles": city helps corrupt banks profit from illegal activity - 3/25/2009

The City of Los Angeles recently announced a new public-private partnership called "Bank on Los Angeles" (bankonla.com) that's designed to help 10,000 low-income residents who don't have bank accounts ("the unbanked") open up accounts. It's also open to illegal aliens [1], and that means that Los Angeles City will be encouraging corruption by helping major banks ...

Schwarzenegger helps banks profit from illegal activity ("Bank on California") - 12/14/2008

... the Mexican government's Matricula Consular card, a form of identification that's basically only of use to illegal aliens. In brief, Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state of California are actively helping banks profit from money that was earned illegally.

Rep. Chris Cannon loses in Utah! (Jason Chaffetz) - 6/24/2008

Illegal immigration-supporting hack and Republican Congressman from Utah Chris Cannon will lose the primary election to Jason Chaffetz. With over 80% of the votes counted at post time, Chaffetz leads 60% to about 40%, so it's safe to call. There are about forty posts at this site mentioning Cannon; use the search function to see them all.

Nine Latin American consulates in New York area join to push immigration agenda inside U.S. - 6/17/2008

The New York-area consulates from nine Latin America countries have joined forces in an effort called the "Coalition of Latin American Consulates in New York." From this: ...the group plans to work together on issues they consider common to their immigrant populations _ from holding informational "consular fairs" and public health screenings to meeting as a group with U.S. immi...

Mexico admits: Matricula Consular ID cards are for illegal aliens (Elizabeth Llorente/North Jersey Record; ACORN?) - 6/09/2008

... found a new purpose for their old Matricula Consular ID card: indentification for illegal aliens.

Seven reasons Kos (DailyKos) can't be trusted on immigration (+Quinnipiac University poll) - 3/27/2008

... Mexican government to pass out Matricula Consular cards in that city. As with New Haven's cards, the MC cards let illegal aliens open bank accounts and the like. The bottom line in this case is the bottom line: that makes it easier for illegal aliens to send money home to Mexico and also allows banks to profit from money that was earned illegally. 2. He fails to note that the mayor of New Ha...

Mexican official hits U.S. citizen while passing out Matricula Consular cards at public school? - 2/07/2008

... out, among other forms of ID, Matricula Consular cards. Having to use one of those cards as ID is a very strong indicator of being an illegal alien. An unidentified person who was apparently a Mexican government official told the Minuteman group they couldn't be there and couldn't take pictures.

Felipe Calderon explicitly wants Mexican consuls to meddle in U.S. immigration debate (non-profits) - 12/07/2007

The only thing shocking about this is that he'd openly admit it: [Today, Mexican president Felipe Calderon] asked his diplomatic representatives in the U.S. to participate in the public debate on immigration by appearing at public events, talking more to the media and working with nonprofit groups to promote Mexican immigrants' role in supporting the U.S.

Mike Huckabee's immigration plan announced - 12/06/2007

[UPDATES below] Mike Huckabee has released his immigration plan (link). It has as few details but isn't as strong as Mitt Romney's immigration plan. It's also not as detailed nor as strong as Fred Thompson's immigration plan.

Chase, Citibank, Laredo National Bank get desk inside Mexican consulate in San Antonio - 11/21/2007

... they realize that those who use Matricula Consular cards (available from the friendly consulate) are most likely illegal aliens. Those banks will then donate a portion of their profits to politicians, who will then ensure that the banks continue to profit from indirect illegal activity. Related: Bank of "America" signs up customers at Dallas Mexican consulate

San Francisco approves ID card; corruption in plain sight; Tom Ammiano? - 11/14/2007

... about how they can accept the Matricula Consular Card and develop products and services to help Latino immigrants, save, send money to their home countries, and buy homes... The New Alliance Task Force is a partnership between the FDIC, the Mexican Consulate, banks, community-based organizations, federal regulators, the secondary market, and private mortgage insurance companies. The partnership h...

Thanks, Huckabee: business at Little Rock Mexican consulate is booming - 11/13/2007

Former Arkansas governor and current presidential candidate Mike Huckabee arranged for a Mexican Consulate to be built in Little Rock. And, business is booming! Per Jon Gambrell of the Associate Press (link): ...In its first six months, the Mexican consulate based in Little Rock has seen the number of citizens it serves a day rise from 50 to 120, said consul Andres Chao.

Mexican consul meddling in Irving Texas (Matricula Consular cards to prevent arrests) - 10/19/2007

... to issue identification cards [Matricula Consular cards] to illegal immigrants to try to save them from arrest and deportation. Irving Mayor Herbert Gears said the ID cards could prevent only a few arrests, but he promised to meet monthly with Consul Enrique Hubbard Urrea to review any complaints ste

More proof GOP is corrupt, lacks differentiation from Democrats (Giuliani, Minuteman flyer) - 8/07/2007

From this: Rudy Giuliani's southwest political director [Chris Gulugian-Taylor] left a top position [executive director] at the Nevada Republican Party last year after breaking rules by advertising a Minuteman border patrol rally in internal GOP e-mails. The notices publicizing a "Stop the Illegal Invasion" rally in October 2006 outraged some Hispanic Republicans in the state, w...

CNN/Youtube: Don't ask Mike Huckabee this question - 8/02/2007

Dear CNN: Please do not choose the following video for the upcoming GOP debates. If you ask Mike Huckabee this question, it just might end his political career, as well as showing the millions who watch the debate just how lightweight the questions the mainstream media usuall

Mexican consul from Little Rock encourages advocacy for illegal immigration - 7/29/2007

... demand for Mexican passports and matricula consular identification cards since its official opening in April, he said.

Bank of "America" signs up customers at Dallas Mexican consulate - 7/16/2007

... [at the consulate] is the $37 matricula consular, a Mexican identification card, given at a clip of about 1,300 per week. But there are also birth and death certificates to issue. There are kiosks to spread the word on medical plans; videos that explain U.S. laws to lobby audiences; and a platoon of bilingual Bank of America workers who greet prospective customers in need of a special account to ...

New York Times alludes to Mexican meddling via consulates (Little Rock) - 5/23/2007

Randal Archibold of the New York Times offers "Debate Raging, Mexico Adds to Consulates in U.S." about Mexico's latest outpost, this one in Little Rock, Arkansas. Somewhat to my surprise, they actually include some of the downsides and question some of Mexico's motives although, of course, they don't go far enough. This is just a fly-in report, not investigative journalism...

Janet Napolitano vetoes anti-Matricula Consular bill - 5/09/2007

... prevent the use of Mexico's Matricula Consular ID card. That card is usually an indicator that the bearer is an illegal alien; legal immigrants have no use for such a card.

Bank of America loses contract over credit card for illegal aliens (Gaston County, NC) - 4/14/2007

From this: A controversial credit card program has led Gaston County leaders to reject Bank of America as the county's bank. Gaston commissioners on Thursday declined to award a four-year contract for banking services to the Charlotte bank -- a decision that could cost the county about $120,000... ...[The credit-cards-for-illegal-aliens] aspect alarmed Gaston commissioners, who didn�...

"Minutemen Scare off Mobile Mexican Consulate" (Costa Mesa) - 4/01/2007

... friends to the south distribute Matricula Consular ID cards - tried to set up shop at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Costa Mesa, California. A group of protesters from the Minuteman Project were apparently able to get enough support from the church members that the consul decided to pack up and leave after just a half-an-hour.

Illinois House approves driver's licenses for illegal aliens - 3/28/2007

The Illinois House approved HR 1100 earlier today, which would give illegal aliens "driving certificates" which supposedly would (link to text): clearly state on its face that it may not be accepted by any federal agency for any federal identification or other official purpose...

Bill Gates: "freedom of migration is a good thing" (also: Reuters misleads) - 3/21/2007

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates - sounding like a cross between Vicente Fox and Martha Stewart - said the following in Mexico: "I'm a big believer that as much as possible, and there's obviously political limitations, freedom of migration is a good thing." He also supported immigration "reform".

Bob Barr takes Bank of America's side; did the ACLU get to him? - 3/02/2007

... allowed to accept Mexico's Matricula Consular ID card, but the Bush administration fought to change that. That's despite both the FBI and the DOJ pointing out that the cards were not a reliable means of identification and would provide "an opportunity for terrorists to move freely in the United States". As detailed at the last link, the Mexican government is allowed to visit t...

Bill Press is an idiot, Part #4832842 (Bank of America illegal alien credit cards) - 2/25/2007

Bill Press is a radio (Jones Radio Network), TV, and newspaper pundit and the former chairman of the California Democratic Party. Via this he offers "Bank Of America Rejects English-Only Plastic". As with other things, discussing all the ways it's wrong would take too long.

Bank of America CEO Kenneth Lewis defiantly says won't cancel credit card for illegal aliens - 2/22/2007

Bank of America CEO Kenneth Lewis has written an editorial for the Wall Street Journal explaining his side of the credit card for illegal aliens his bank offers. In yet another bone-headed move, it's subscriber-only. A large percentage of those who subscribe to that rag will probably already support their position; it's the rest of us he should be trying to hustle.

Let's help Katherine Mangu-Ward find some Reason - 2/20/2007

Katherine Mangu-Ward of Reason Magazine discusses Bank of America's credit card for illegal aliens in "Credit Where Credit Is Due" [1]. Let's help her with her thinking: [ITIN numbers are] a reasonable, practical measure and it enables recent arrivals to the country-legal and illegal-to do business on the up-and-up.

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, Julien Ross, AFSC - 2/18/2007

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition ["CIRC"; statewide coordinator: Julien Ross] is a five-year old group with 80 other organizations as members. From this we learn: The coalition is directed by representatives of 12 groups, including the Colorado Catholic Conference, Service Employees International Union Local 105, and the American Friends

Wells Fargo knows many of its customers are illegal aliens - 2/14/2007

The not-exactly-in-depth L.A. Times article "Banking on illegal immigrants" by E. Scott Reckard, David Streitfeld and Adrian G. Uribarri discusses the backlash to Bank of America's credit card for illegal aliens. It informs us: "At face value the program seems to be problematic," said Russ Knocke, a [Department of Homeland Security] spokesman. "It seems to be lending...

Bank of "America": credit cards for illegal aliens - 2/12/2007

... similar policy on ITIN numbers or Matricula Consular cards first. - Stop supporting anyone linked to the Bush administration. Related: U.S. Treasurer wants Mexico to become even more reliant on remittances Have Oklahoma banks admitted to aiding and abetting illegal immigration? St. Peter Catholic Church, Jupiter Florida, supports illegal immigration Arizona Republic almost does expose on Western ...

Durham illegal aliens victims of black on Hispanic robberies; Wells Fargo? - 1/08/2007

The article "Nearly half of robbery victims in Durham [North Carolina] are Hispanic" says that others say that Hispanics are a lucrative, vulnerable and growing target for armed robbers. Of course, they aren't really refering to "Hispanics" in general, but to illegal aliens, many of whom don't have bank accounts and carry large amounts of cash with them.

John DeStefano linked to Mexico collaborators (CT governor race) - 10/27/2006

New Haven mayor and Democrat John DeStefano [1] is running for governor of Connecticut against Republican incumbent M. Jodi Rell. DeStefano has several links to a New Haven group called "JUNTA for Progressive Action" [2], a group which is collaborating with the Mexican government.

Pahrump anti-illegal immigration ordinance; bucks rotting in the banks? - 10/12/2006

... course he's refering to Matricula Consular cards, often called "IDs for illegals". That old card was revived for use by illegal aliens and if someone has that card it's a very strong indicator that they're an illegal alien because legal immigrants have no use for that card when doing business in the U.S. And, Mexican consuls freely admit that they hand them out to their c...

U.S. Federal Reserve to enable illegal immigration - 10/11/2006

There's a lot of money to be made off illegal activity, and the U.S. Federal Reserve (FAQ) is trying to get a piece of the pie. The subscriber-only WSJ article "U.S. Banks Woo Migrants, Legal Or Otherwise" has this preview: As U.S. leaders craft policies to curb illegal immigration from Mexico, the U.S.

Is Nick Inzunza (mayor of National City) a slumlord? - 10/05/2006

Here's a quick look at two SDUT stories. From October 1 2006's "National City named sanctuary city": Mayor Nick Inzunza declared National City an immigrant sanctuary in a proclamation he presented to immigrants rights activists during dueling rallies that brought about 400 people to City Hall yesterday. Democratic Party-linked Enrique Morones was there.

Mexico consul general in Oregon profiled - 10/02/2006

Janie Har of the Oregonian offers "Mexican consul walks a fine line" about Mexico's consul general for Oregon, Fernando Sanchez Ugarte. Despite having five screens (!) to work with, there is very little of interest to those who've, for instance, watched how the government of Mexico has been able to obtain political power inside the U.S.

Beachhead: Houston Chronicle fully supports Mexican agenda, illegal immigration - 9/11/2006

The Houston Chronicle unsigned editorial "Beachhead" is so shocking in its outright support for illegal immigration and Mexico's agenda it's almost unbelievable: FOUR years ago, Mexico closed its New Orleans consulate a

Help David Garbe, the Suburban Chicago News provide America-friendly coverage - 8/25/2006

David Garbe is a reporter for the Suburban Chicago News (owned by the Chicago Sun-Times group) and he offers the latest in a very long line of similar reports on the mobile Mexican consulate coming to small towns to pass out their ID cards to their citizens, most of whom are here illegally: "Hundreds line up at mobile Mexican consulate".

Steve Laffey, Lincoln Chafee, Matricula Consular cards, the NRSC, and idiots - 8/23/2006

Steve Laffey is the mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island and he's trying to defeat fellow Republican Lincoln Chafee in the Senatorial primary. Apparently the National Republican Senatorial Committee supports the RINO Chafee, believing that only he can defeat the Democratic challenger.

50th Mexican consulate in Wichita? TreatCo. - 8/21/2006

Mexico has 49 or so consulates in the U.S., more than any other country. Some Wichita residents are trying to get the 50th built in Wichita, Kansas. The nearest consulate is in Kansas City, Missouri, just 200 miles away. From the report by Christina M. Woods in the Wichita Eagle: Officials from the Kansas City, Mo.-based Mexican consulate got to witness the local Mexican community's interest...

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