FEDS: MEXICAN ID CARD A DANGER.Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - Mexican identification cards issued to more than 9,000 Los Angeles-area residents each month could threaten national security, FBI and Department of Homeland Security Noun 1. Department of Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States officials declared Thursday. Meanwhile, Rep. Elton Gallegly Elton W. Gallegly (born March 7 1944), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1987, currently representing the 24th District of California (map). , R-Thousand Oaks, said he expects the House to vote by December on legislation he sponsored prohibiting federal agencies from accepting the Mexican ID and other foreign-issued identification except passports. In a hearing that sparked heated debate among Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, lawmakers before the House Judiciary Committee panel on immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. , law enforcement officials said the matricula consular cards can easily be obtained illegally and used to aid criminal activity. ``Clearly this is a threat and a vulnerability,'' said Steven McCraw, assistant director in the FBI intelligence unit. He believes al-Qaida networks and other terrorists are watching the expanding acceptance of the matricula consular at banks as well as state and local agencies. ``They're persistent, and they're adaptable, and any ability to get fictitious identification, they're going to exploit.'' ``We're very concerned about these cards,'' said Homeland Security Department There were gaps in the U.S. system for detecting and deterring terrorist acts in the homeland. That became clear September 11, 2001. The Department of Homeland Security is the george w. bush administration's plug for those gaps. Assistant Secretary C. Stewart Verdery. Verdery voiced concern about misuse of the cards as ``breeder documents'' to more easily gain access to other documents, such as driver's licenses, and create false identities. Thursday's congressional hearing was the second this month on the matricula consular. On June 19, the House Judiciary panel launched an investigation into the cards because of concerns about national security risks. The cards have been issued since 1871 to Mexicans living abroad as a way to help them seek embassy assistance. Recently, however, the Mexican government has promoted the cards' acceptance for general identification purposes in the U.S. - provoking controversy between immigration foes and advocates. Opponents say illegal immigrants are the primary users of the cards, and say increased acceptance of the cards is a de facto [Latin, In fact.] In fact, in deed, actually. This phrase is used to characterize an officer, a government, a past action, or a state of affairs that must be accepted for all practical purposes, but is illegal or illegitimate. amnesty program. Supporters say being able to show some identification gives illegal immigrants a measure of protection against predators and also helps local officials who need to see IDs to allow people into buildings and other routine matters do their jobs. To date, 402 cities and 32 counties, including the city of Los Angeles
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is a local law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. and the Los Angeles Police Department "LAPD" and "L.A.P.D." redirect here. For other uses, see LAPD (disambiguation).  This article or section is written like an . .
Reps. Howard Berman, D-Van Nuys, and Linda Sanchez, D-Lakewood, defended local acceptance of the card, saying its use does not give the bearer any special immigration status and does not help in obtaining benefits. They argued that the matricula consulars are often harder to forge than U.S.-issued documents. ``It seems to me there is a great deal of fuss being made about this card that is, in essence, just helping people do their jobs,'' Sanchez said. Berman said he objected to the repeated allusions to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks made by opponents of the card. ``To take the emotionality of that issue and apply it to the issue of the consulate identifiers creates an impression that isn't really fair.'' But Gallegly said acceptance of the cards ``puts America at great peril.'' Lisa Friedman, (202) 662-8731 lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com |
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