Thread: Wells Fargo targeted by Pahrump Minutemen

http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com


Aug. 16, 2006


Wells Fargo targeted by Pahrump Minutemen



The Pahrump contingent of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, a new local group hot under the collar about illegal aliens in the United States, plans to stage a protest rally Friday at the Wells Fargo branch bank at the corner of Highway 160 and Wilson Road.

The reason for picking on Wells Fargo is because of the bank's policy of accepting consular registry cards from Columbia and other Latin American countries as one of three valid forms of identification for potential customers wanting to open a bank account.

In 2001 Wells Fargo was the first bank to accept the Mexican matricula card and in 2002 was the first to accept the Guatemalan and Argentinean consular cards as valid identification. Since then, Wells Fargo has opened more than 750,000 accounts for customers using a consular identification card from Mexico, Guatemala or Argentina.

Customers still have to have a Social Security number, or an Individual Taxpayer Identification number, and one other source of ID in order to open an account in compliance with the U.S. Patriot Act.

There are estimated to be 1.5 million Columbians residing in the U.S.

"We want Latinos to know Wells Fargo welcomes their business and wants to be the financial services company of choice for all communities," said John Stumpf, president and chief operating officer of the bank in a statement last March. "Like the Mexican, Guatemalan and Argentinian consular cards, the Columbian consular registry card meets all of the U.S. government's and Wells Fargo's requirements as a valid form of primary identification."

Consul General of Colombia in Los Angeles Myriam Beltran de Forero said in the same news release, "The acceptance of the card acknowledges the positive role immigrants are having through their perseverance and hard work to help build the future of the United States and also of Colombia."

But Jack Baucum, citizen volunteer with the Pahrump Minutemen, says that Wells Fargo is allowing illegal aliens to open bank accounts in violation of federal law.

"The only person who needs a matricular consul card is an illegal alien," said Baucum. "Legal immigrants have access to Social Security cards, driver's licenses or any ID card issued by the states or the federal government -- or a 'green card,' a resident alien card."

Baucum said, "This is an end run to circumvent the fact that they cannot get legal ID in this country. In Mexico consular cards are not even recognized without a birth certificate, which Mexicans rarely have."

That's because Mexicans aren't born in hospitals, Baucum said. Midwives assist with births at home.

The Minutemen say Wells Fargo is in violation of federal law for enabling and encouraging illegal aliens to reside in the U.S. through setting up of bank accounts and gaining the ability to send money earned in the U.S. back to their homelands through the purchase of money orders.

Such enablement is a felony violation subject to five to 10 years imprisonment, Baucum said.

Local Wells Fargo officials would not comment on the situation, but referred the newspaper to its regional communications officer in Reno. An individual there said she needed to research the issue more thoroughly before commenting.

Debbie Overly, Wells Fargo's Pahrump branch general manager, would only say, "This guy is making me mad."

The rally and protest takes place at 9:30 a.m. and is scheduled to continue until 11:30 a.m.


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Seems to be kind of a new Minuteman kind of group, another one? Good for them.
Banks are a lot of the problem with illegal immigration. Money, money, money. They all want it no matter what the cost (and I don't mean monetary).
More and more citizens are speaking out, the momentum is growing and it is energizing the rest of us.

I hope they can branch out on a few more banks that are doing this.