Based on recent congressional testimony by the FBI on the validity of the Matricula Consular, Tancredo has written a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge urging him to issue a public statement denouncing the recognition and acceptance of the Mexican government’s identification card by any federal, state or local agency.
"While no one disputes the right of the Mexican government to issue such documents to its citizens living in any country, the United States has a duty to its own citizens to apply higher standards to the documents accepted by our own institutions," states Tancredo in his letter. "As the primary agency charged with enhancing domestic security, I believe that DHS has an obligation to apply these higher standards and issue policy guidance accordingly."
In his recent testimony before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims, Assistant Director of the FBI Office of Intelligence Steve McCraw told lawmakers:
"The US Government has done an extensive amount of research on the Matricula Consular, to assess its verifiability as a reliable means of identification. The Department of Justice and the FBI have concluded that the Matricula Consular is not a reliable form of identification, due to the nonexistence of any means of verifying the true identity of the card holder."
McCraw's testimony continued:
"As a result of these problems, there are two major criminal threats posed by the card, and one potential terrorist threat."
And on the specific nature of the terrorist threat, the FBI says:
"Federal officials have discovered individuals from many different countries in possession of the Matricula Consular card….The ability of foreign nationals to use the Matricula Consular to create a well-documented, but fictitious, identity in the United States provides an opportunity for terrorists to move freely…without triggering name-based watch lists that are disseminated to local police officers. It also allows them to board planes without revealing their true identity."
In his letter to DHS, Rep. Tancredo writes, "As Chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, it concerns me that the Administration is not speaking with a clear and voice on this vital issue. As you may know, the Treasury Department on May 9 published new regulations under the Patriot Act which permit the acceptance of these foreign government-issued ID cards by banks and financial institutions. In the absence or guidance from the federal government, many state and local jurisdictions have yielded to the active lobbying by Mexican consulate officers and other lobby groups."
According to Tancredo's letter, DHS sent the White House a draft "Policy Statement on the Matricula Consular" in April warning ederal agencies against accepting the card. That policy, says Tancredo has been in the White House Homeland Security Council awaiting further action ever since.
