Published: April 27, 2007

Local News: Rockford
Mexican residents endure long line for ID cards

Matricula consular ‘helps people in their daily lives,’ official says.



ROCKFORD — Hundreds of Mexican residents needing passports and identification cards lined the walkway to the Rock River Chapter of the American Red Cross on Thursday, braving the rain to meet with officials from the Consulate General of Mexico’s Chicago mobile operation

The line began forming as early as 3 a.m. One woman arrived at 9 p.m. Wednesday, worried she wouldn’t be given a number in line.

Red Cross classrooms were transformed into processing stations, helping people obtain passports and the all-important matricula consular identification cards.



The matricula consular is an identification card issued by the Mexican government to nationals living abroad.

Mexican nationals can obtain their matricula by filling out an application. The cost of the consular ID is $27 and the document is valid for five years. Applicants should provide one of the documents in each category:

Category 1: Proof of nationality by means of an original birth certificate, valid passport, a certificate of Mexican nationality or a baptism certificate notarized in Mexico.

Category 2: Proof of identity by means of a valid U.S. driver’s license, passport, Mexican voter’s card, school certificate, military registration card, U.S. work permit, U.S. resident card or state ID.

Category 3: Providing a proof of address by showing a utility bill, tax receipt, state ID or a U.S. driver’s license.




Julio C. Hurta, Mexican consul of Chicago, said the Mexican identification card is extremely useful for people living outside Mexico.

“The matricula helps people identify themselves, but it doesn’t solve anything related to immigration — to be legal or illegal or to stay in this country,” he said. “It helps people in their daily lives to obtain bank accounts, just like the passports help people when traveling.”

To obtain an ID card, officials said, the proper documentation is crucial — an official copy of their birth certificate is a must; other documents include a Mexican voter’s registration card, a marriage license or a Mexican driver’s license. Applicants must be 18 years or older and children must be accompanied by a parent. Parents must bring a child’s vaccination and school records.

They must also bring cash. A Mexican identification card is $27 and valid for five years; a passport is $84 for five years.

Hurta’s office covers counties in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, serving more than 25,000 people in an average eight-month period. This weekend alone, 900 passports and identification card requests will be processed by the mobile office.

The office is only in town through Sunday, with a maximum of 300 people being served daily, so organizers are encouraging residents to arrive early and come prepared with proper documentation.

“There were 500 people waiting outside when the doors opened (Thursday),” said Julio Salgado, Red Cross workplace coordinator. “I felt bad.”

Angelina Mares of Chicago was one of those who waited, only to be turned away after driving more than 90 miles to obtain her passport on her only day off. For Mares, returning was not an option; she won’t have a ride and she can’t afford to lose a day of pay.

“I feel frustrated. I need to fly to Mexico due to an emergency,” she explained. “We didn’t come to fight. We just wanted to be seen.”

Her sense of urgency and disappointment was apparent. The consulate will fulfill passport and identification requests daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Sunday at 727 N. Church St. in the classrooms of the Red Cross.





http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art ... /1004/NEWS