Take Action! Save the Matricula Consular ID Card

Update to my June 7 post - This amendment was rejected and is no longer threatening to ban acceptance of foreign-issued identification (e.g. the matricula consular).

Thanks,

Mario, June 10, 2006



Save the Matricula Consular ID Card. Many public libraries accept this form of ID, the following amendment would ban the acceptance fo the ID.

Take Action! Call your Representative in the Appropriations committee. Don't know it is? Click Here to Find Out.

In a last minute effort, Rep. Culberson has introduced an amendment that would effectively ban acceptance of foreign-issued identification (e.g., the matrícula consular) and the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). This amendment is being attached to the FY ’07 Transportation, Treasury, Housing, and Urban Development bill in the Appropriations committee.

Background

1. The Mexican consular identification card (matrícula consular) is simply an identification card.

* It does not “legalize” the status of any immigrant, nor can it be used to obtain any immigration or citizenship benefits such as work authorization or the right to vote. The matrícula consular cannot be used to obtain public benefits.

2. Consular-issued identification cards are secure.

* To comply with standards set forth by the U.S. Department of State, consular-issued identification cards have a dozen security features to ensure authenticity and discourage fraud, including a digitalized photo, serial number, hologram with special marks, and infrared band.

TALKING POINTS
1) 1. In a security-conscious environment, we want people who are in the U.S., whatever their status, to be able to prove their identity.
2) * Many cities, counties, and law enforcement agencies are accepting consular-issued identification cards. Police departments know that when people feel free to report crimes and other suspicious behavior without fearing immigration troubles for themselves and their family members, the whole community is safer.
3) * If we prevent people from obtaining legal identification, we will make the job of police departments more difficult. Police officers will waste precious time and resources identifying individuals, rather than protecting our communities.
4) 2. Accepting consular-issued identification cards is vital to opening the doorway to economic opportunity for all immigrants in the U.S.
5) * Too many low-income families lack access to basic financial services. A recent survey found that 62% of immigrants with annual incomes below $20,000 do not have bank accounts.
6) * Unfortunately, for ?unbanked? workers there are often no real financial alternatives except for payday lenders and check cashers, most located in neighborhoods where Latinos work and reside.
7) * What?s more, these Latino workers have both the strong desire and the need to access low-cost savings and asset-building tools to provide for their children and stabilize their families financially.
8) * A relationship to a mainstream financial institution has a long-term, positive financial impact on these workers, their families, and the communities where they reside ? fostering greater integration into the U.S. economy, which will pay dividends in the long run.
9) 3. Latinos are important to the U.S. economy and the economies of state and local governments.
10) * The purchasing power of the nation?s Hispanic community now surpasses $580 billion annually.
11) * Access to lower-cost financial products and services for Hispanics, especially immigrant workers, can ensure that the U.S. economy works more efficiently.
12) * The cost savings can be significant, and access to a broader range of tools will provide more opportunities for Latinos to save, buy cars and homes, and financially invest in the nation?s economy.
13) * Mexican Consular IDs and ITINs integrate a population into the financial mainstream which is intrinsically connected not only to the nation?s economy but to the economies of cities and states as well.

-Mario