By Ray Gronberg
Durham Herald Sun

March 24, 2011



DURHAM -- A state House panel on Wednesday endorsed and sent to the floor a bill that would bar Durham and other communities from accepting as valid ID the Mexican government's matricula consular.

The draft bill recommended by part of the House Judiciary Committee was rewritten since its introduction. It now would extend the ban to similar documents issued by the consulate of any foreign country.

It also would strike from state law provisions that have allowed the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, private car insurers and Medicaid recipients to recognize or use the matricula.

The bill cleared the judiciary panel on a 7-4 vote, with the opposing votes cast by state Reps. Larry Hall, D-Durham, and Bill Faison, D-Orange, among others.

Faison made it clear he regards the bill as a political stunt, one he predicted Wednesday will generate "a lot of unintended adverse consequences."

"There is not a single state agency in here saying we have a problem," noting the absence of support for the bill even from groups like the N.C. Sheriff's Association. "This is simply a hot-topic item that ultimately is a bad idea."

Hall added that the bill establishes for foreigners living in this state "an additional standard" for proving their identity that's "not even used by us in other countries," meaning it's higher than U.S. citizens are asked to meet when they're abroad.

But the majority sided with anti-immigration activists who were present, among them William Gheen, president of a group called Americans for Legal Immigration.

Gheen alleged that the matricula is a "worthless ID" not widely accepted in Mexico and said legislators have to strike a blow against illegal immigration.

"The Mexican government is here to represent their interests against the interests of American citizens, because they receive a large influx into their economy from remittances sent back to Mexico," he said. "They've sent some of their poorest elements north, they've sent some of their criminal elements north. They have vested interests in those people remaining, at a time when they are leaving in historic numbers because of the bad economy and because of increased tightening of security at the state level."

Gheen was alluding to the presence at the hearing of Carlos Flores-Vizcarra, the Mexico's consul general for the Carolinas.

Flores-Vizcarra told legislators, contrary to Gheen's claims, that the matricula is "recognized within Mexico by Mexican law" and is accepted for banking transactions and other uses.

Before the final vote committee members turned aside an amendment offered by Rep. Darren Jackson, D-Wake, that would have allowed insurance companies to continue accepting the matricula.

The amendment picked up support from Rep. Chuck McGrady, R-Henderson, who said he thought it a benefit to "public health" to make it easy for people to identify themselves for purposes of obtaining car insurance.

But one of the bill's two chief sponsors, Rep. George Cleveland, R-Onslow, said he was against the amendment. He made it clear he doubts illegal immigrants care much about insurance.

From what constituents say, "an illegal will go out, and get his insurance, he'll get his card, he'll cancel his insurance, doesn't care if his license expires and he keeps on driving," Cleveland said. "I do not see where this amendment will solve that problem."

Cleveland before the hearing conferred with Gheen and several other anti-immigration activists who were present.

Gheen traveled to Durham last November to attend the City Council meeting where local leaders endorsed the Durham Police Department's practice of accepting the matricula.

He and other activists staged a noisy walkout when Mayor Bill Bell ruled that the council would hear comment on the policy only from Durham residents.

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