[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 25, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H2281-H2282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   QUESTIONING THE MATRICULA CONSULAR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 7, 2003, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a problem that 
should be at the forefront of our agenda as we move into the 108th 
Congress. Our immigration system today needs improvement. 
Unfortunately, it took a tragedy to remind us about this.
  This country, of course, was based upon immigration. It was what has 
made us strong and all Americans recognize its importance. But this 
system needs improvement. We must continue to facilitate the entry of 
those men and women who make productive citizens, yet continue to 
filter those who are not eligible and those who could bring harm to our 
way of life.
  As a body, we recently moved the INS to the Department of Homeland 
Security, a measure that signals a return to our security. This 
administration has realized the fact that reorganization must take 
place before we can take steps to reform our immigration system.
  At no other time in our Nation's history have we faced more of a 
threat to our domestic security; but as we make strides towards 
improved security measures, I am deeply concerned that countries, even 
those who are considered allies, are lining up to compromise our work.
  Every day, Mr. Speaker, thousands of illegal immigrants stream across 
our

[[Page H2282]]

sieve-like borders and into our country. Once they are inside, the grim 
reality stands that they are totally, totally untrackable. Yet our 
neighbor to the south does nothing to help us. But this is in no way 
shocking, seeing that remittances from Mexico's citizens, both legal 
and illegal, account for Mexico's third largest source of income. It 
amounts to over $10 billion a year. That is what is sent back by the 
Mexican immigrants. So it is no surprise that the Mexican Government is 
not helping us to secure our borders.
  One method I would bring to the attention of my colleagues has been 
found recently by Mexico in the wake of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. As 
we remember, we were going to have legislation on the floor dealing 
with Mexico that was tabled because our attention was focused on 
homeland security. So then the Mexican Government decided to change its 
strategy and they substituted a grass-roots approach that focused at 
the local level to seek small successes and build momentum for 
congressional action.
  Now, the linchpin for this new strategy was to be the matricula 
consular. Now, this is a word which means an official identity card 
which would be issued by the Mexican Government which it wants to be 
officially recognized by the United States. Now, unless we recognize 
this card, it goes nowhere; but they want us to recognize this card. 
This card would essentially allow illegal immigrants from Mexico the 
right to apply for a driver's license, Social Security card, and bank 
account. The U.S. Treasury Department has even gone so far as to 
promote its use. In a report to Congress, Treasury included a footnote 
that would go on to influence the language of the United States Patriot 
Act. The footnote says: ``Thus, the proposed regulations do not 
discourage bank acceptance of the matricula consular identity card that 
is being issued by the Mexican Government to immigrants.''
  My colleagues, we can stop this by sponsoring H.R. 502. This bill 
requires that any ID cards must be verifiable by our government to 
obtain Federal public benefits. We do not have to recognize these 
identity cards from Mexico. The intent of the PATRIOT Act of 2000, 
which passed overwhelmingly by Congress, was to strengthen our homeland 
security. It addressed the issue of secure identification because the 
hijackers had obtained Social Security numbers and drivers licenses. 
Especially in this context, it is difficult to comprehend why Treasury 
went out of its way to give approval to an identity card being offered 
by a single foreign government whose contiguous border is a matter of 
acute concern to the United States and whose nationals represent the 
majority of illegals within the United States.
  As our troops risk their lives thousands of miles from home, it is 
disappointing that a country so dependent upon us would continue to 
compromise our security and openly denounce our foreign policy, that 
is, they are not supporting the war in Iraq. Despite the fact that the 
United States provides Mexico with 75 percent of their annual trade and 
is home to millions of migrants, President Fox of Mexico, a friend of 
President Bush, openly decries our military action.
  As the battle for our homeland security wages both here and in the 
deserts of the Middle East, we must find a way to better monitor the 
men and women who freely cross our borders every day. The matricula 
consular identity card would not help in this regard, Mr. Speaker. It 
is time we reevaluate our immigration system and ensure that our 
country will be better protected by those who would wish to do us harm.

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