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Contact: Christopher Chichester
202-225-4236
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Smith: Consular Cards Threaten Homeland Security
Washington,
Jun 19, 2003 -
Rep. Smith delivered the following remarks on the floor of the House this morning:
"Today the Immigration Subcommittee will hold a hearing on consular identification cards such as those issued by Mexican Consulates to illegal immigrants in the U.S.
"A number of cities and dozens of banks now recognize these cards for identification purposes. In several states they can be used to obtain a driver`s license.
"The cards are not reliable, not secure, and make it easier for illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. A person’s identity is not verified and false identities are easy to obtain. To anyone worried about homeland security, these cards should be seen as a `red alert.`
"The Treasury Department recently approved these consular identification cards for bank use. Yet no major bank in Mexico accepts them. So we have U.S. banks relying on Mexican identification cards that even Mexico won’t recognize.
"Perhaps the Treasury Department didn’t hear that the President is concerned about homeland security. Treasury officials may want to call the White House."
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