Mexican consulate card set for ID status

Mexican consulate card set for ID status

petaluma360.com
By MARTIN ESPINOZA
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 8:07 p.m.

Local law enforcement officials are expected to announce today a countywide policy of accepting Mexican consular ID cards as a valid form of identification.

Such a move would could keep some illegal immigrants from landing in jail, where they most likely would be flagged by federal immigration officials. Police officers in California have the authority to arrest drivers who cannot provide valid identification.

The announcement is to be made at a meeting in Santa Rosa of the North Bay Organizing Project, a group that has lobbied for the policy change since the beginning of the year.

Omar Gallardo, president of the group’s leadership council, said that representatives from the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs’ Association, the Sheriff’s Office and the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco are expected to attend.

However, he would not give details about the policy change.

In early September, Sebastopol Police Chief Jeff Weaver said that officers in his department would begin honoring the consular ID card, known in Spanish as matricula consular. Weaver said then that the policy was being considered for adoption by the local chiefs’ association.

Santa Rosa Chief Tom Schwedhelm said Friday that the association had voted at its last meeting to “add language to one of our policies so that it covers Mexican consular cards.â€

How Mexican consular ID cards can be accepted in the U.S. but Mexico doesn't accept them as valid ID doesn't make sense to me. I have yet heard anyone explain this. If someone can please enlighten me.