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Mexican consul general pushes for city to accept ID cards

Friday, June 17, 2005
By Shandra Martinez
The Grand Rapids Press
HOLLAND -- The Mexican consul general in Detroit is renewing his request for city of Holland to accept "matricula consular" identification cards as a valid document of identification for Mexican nationals.

In a letter to city officials, Antonio Meza Estrada said he would like Holland to recognize identification cards issued by the Mexican government "as a valid document of identification for the Mexican nationals who are visiting, studying, residing or working in the city of Holland."

Two years ago, the City Council tabled action on the proposal to allow the use of the cards for business with the city, saying it was waiting for federal action on the issue.

The vote was 5-4, with Mayor Al McGeehan and council members Victor Orozco, Linda Falstad and Bob Vande Vusse supporting for the cards.

Council members were inundated with e-mails and phone calls from around the country.

Opponents warned of the potential legal problems the city could face if officials accepted the cards.

But supporters of the document say it helps Mexican nationals who live and work in the area, regardless of their status. The card makes it easier for Mexican nationals to cash checks and send money to relatives in Mexico.

Councilman David Hoekstra said his informal polling of his colleagues on the council indicated they are reluctant to stir up a hornet's nest again.

"Nobody is jumping up and down to consider it," Hoekstra said.

Meza Estrada said Mexico has taken steps to protect against fraud by using watermarks and holograms, said Hoekstra, who shared his letter from the consul general with the Human Relations Commission on Thursday.

"It seems as they are trying to make them more foolproof and less susceptible to fraud," Hoekstra said.

Alberto Serrano, director of the city's Human Relations Department, said the commission might weigh in on the request.

"We'll look at it. If we find that it is worth looking at it again, we'll bring it back to the commission," he said. "It will be interesting to see if there is anything new."

The commission, which is on hiatus during the summer, will meet again in September.

Each of the council members received a letter from Meza Estrada along with a CD providing more information about improvements to the matricula consular and how it is used by Mexican nationals in the United States.

Hoekstra said he did not know when the council might officially respond to Meza Estrada's letter.