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Posted on 01-05-2006

Consular IDs Now Accepted In Illinois

Illinois became the second state in the nation to recognize consular ID cards issued by foreign consulates on January 1st when the Consular Identification Document Act officially went into effect, allowing hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the state to use the cards for identification, to establish credit and to open bank accounts.

Spearheaded by the General Assembly’s Latino Legislative Caucus, and sponsored by State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) and State Representative Dan Burke (D-Chicago), the Act requires state and local government to admit ID cards issued by foreign consulates as valid form of identification.

“Starting with the New Year, hard working immigrants will have a valid ID that will allow them to move around and do simple, but important, things like opening a checking account and establishing credit,� said Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Immigrants in Chicago and Cook County have used consular ID cards since 2002 to open checking and savings accounts and nearly 70 financial institutions in Illinois accept consular ID cards.

The law clarifies that consular ID cards cannot be used as a driver’s license, and they cannot be used to qualify for benefits. Consular ID cards do not establish U.S. residency, and cannot be used for voter registration purposes.

In addition, The law requires foreign consulates to establish proof that individuals receiving consular ID cards are who they purport to be, by presenting proof of nationality, identity and residence in the consulate’s district.

The consulates must also ensure that ID cards cannot be easily replicated, and must include proper information written on the card in English, such as name and address of the card’s bearer. Consulates must also file a copy of each ID with the Illinois State Police and must have their ID issuing procedures certified by the State Police.

The law also provides that government agencies and law enforcement can require additional identification from an individual when information is needed beyond what is written on the ID card.

“This legislation will help residents identify themselves and at the same time will benefit law enforcement agencies and financial institutions with their relations in the immigrant community,� Sandoval said.

Mexico is by far the largest issuer of consular ID cards in the United States, having issued over 500,000 in Illinois alone since 2002.

In the United States, only Nevada has passed a law similar to Illinois’, and 12 other states have local administrative rules recognizing consular ID cards.



Abstract: consular ID cards, Illinois, Consular Identification Document Act