Thread: Permit to Issue Mexican ID Cards Revoked in Lafayette LA

http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs. ... 60324/1002

Way to go, Lafayette! Maybe ICE can follow these corrupt 'travelling consulates' around the country and arrest more illegals!



Permit to issue Mexican ID cards revoked
Kyle Jackson
kjackson@theadvertiser.com

The Mexican Consulate's trip to Lafayette this weekend to issue a controversial identification card to Mexican nationals may not happen because local officials have revoked the consulate's permit to operate in a Lafayette government facility.
City Parish-President Joey Durel along with U.S. Senator David Vitter, R-Metairie, announced Thursday that the city was revoking the consulate's permit, which would have allowed them to operate out of the Clifton Chenier Center this Saturday and Sunday. The consulate planned to issue matricula consular identification cards, a non-U.S. issued form of ID for Mexican nationals.




The card however has come under fire locally and nationally because the consulate doesn't necessarily verify immigration status before it issues the card, so any Mexican national, whether they are in the U.S. legally or illegally, can get one.

"If there's any possibility of aiding illegal aliens on city-parish property, that's not something we want to be a part of," said Rob Stevenson, Lafayette City-Parish Council chairman.
Officials with the Mexican Consulate's office in Houston said they aren't sure if they will postpone the trip to Lafayette entirely or not.

Lolita Parkinson, media specialist with the consulate, said Thursday evening that her office is still trying to find an alternate private location to house the mobile consulate.

In a written statement, Durel said he discussed the issue with Stevenson regarding how the Mexican Consulate would verify the immigration status of each Mexican national applying for a card. After having a "lack of assurance" of the consulate's procedures, Durel said, "we could not allow this potential illegal activity to happen in a government building."

Durel said he became aware of the cards after receiving phone calls and questions from citizens. The issue came to the forefront however after being contacted by the offices of Vitter and U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette.

Stevenson said he became aware of the consulate's plan only after reading an article in The Daily Advertiser. He noted that the Mexican Consulate was in Lafayette last year assisting Mexican nationals with passport renewal and he thought this upcoming return to Lafayette was regarding passports. Stevenson said that he and Durel had a conference call with Vitter on Thursday morning where Vitter expressed his views about the ID card.

"We had no idea these cards were being issued," Stevenson said. "We thought they wanted to help legal aliens with renewing their passports. This was not divulged to us."

Vitter said it would be "ridiculous" to allow the consulate to use a "building paid for by taxpayers to issue ID cards to benefit illegal aliens."

The decision comes directly after Vitter issued a news release through his office earlier this week asking officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE, to have agents be present at the mobile Mexican Consulate.

"I have huge concerns that the issuance of these cards could be used for the benefit of illegal immigrants," Vitter said in a written statement. "An individual who is residing illegally in the United States could be issued this card and then use it in a transaction that requires some form of identification. The Mexican Consulate has stated their intent to issue these cards to any of their citizens who reside in the United States, even if they are doing so illegally, and that is simply unacceptable."

Vitter also stated that he believes the cards are just a form of ID that assist illegal aliens in having privileges such as opening bank accounts at some financial institutions.

Greg Hassel, spokesman for Chase Bank, has said that his bank and others around the country accept the matricula card as a second form of ID to allow Mexican nationals to open an account. Several local banks, such as Iberia Bank, Teche Federal Bank and Home Bank don't currently accept the card but may do so in the future.

"I have said all along that I believe the Mexican Consulate's true intent is to provide identification cards to its citizens who are living here illegally," Vitter said. "These cards could help these illegals set up bank accounts, get credit cards and possibly even government services."

Local law enforcement agencies don't accept the card however. Louisiana State Police spokesman Sgt. Markus Smith has stated that his agency does not recognize the card because it has no validity as a form of U.S.-government-issued ID.

You have to love Vitter.

The arrogance and boldness of the Mexican government to brazenly engage in unlawful activity on US soil is simply beyond belief (well, not to those that have followed the immigration debate in the last few years...)

I seriously wonder how many other countries would turn the other cheek on such a bold infringement of national sovereignty and political activity.
Time to find the nearest Mexican Consulate, and have the State Dept. inform them that their diplomatic permissions to stay are being revoked. Time to send a LOUD and CLEAR message.

Originally Posted by PhredE

The arrogance and boldness of the Mexican government to brazenly engage in unlawful activity on US soil is simply beyond belief (well, not to those that have followed the immigration debate in the last few years...)

I seriously wonder how many other countries would turn the other cheek on such a bold infringement of national sovereignty and political activity.
Time to find the nearest Mexican Consulate, and have the State Dept. inform them that their diplomatic permissions to stay are being revoked. Time to send a LOUD and CLEAR message.

Mexico is simply colonizing the the United States !

Call yr Congressmsn and demend they support the Save Act H R 4088.

Why is the Mexican Government in the United States issuing ID cards to illegal aliens? Where the hell is our leadership? Why is no one taking control? I think this is an outrage, but I think most of the things these people do are an outrage. WTG Vitter.

Originally Posted by PhredE

The arrogance and boldness of the Mexican government to brazenly engage in unlawful activity on US soil is simply beyond belief (well, not to those that have followed the immigration debate in the last few years...)

I seriously wonder how many other countries would turn the other cheek on such a bold infringement of national sovereignty and political activity.
Time to find the nearest Mexican Consulate, and have the State Dept. inform them that their diplomatic permissions to stay are being revoked. Time to send a LOUD and CLEAR message.

Yes, Phred....I agree completely. The Mexican Consulates are here to subvert our sovereignty and should be expelled immediately! And their brazenness is shocking!!! Where are our leaders????