That's right! They are basically issued to anybody that can fabricate a good story/ Mexican birth certificate, and their sole purpose is to facilitate illegal immigration.

I remember a couple of years ago Mexican nationals were coming to set up shop here in Canada too, until the government finally put in place a visa requirement. Mexico's Foreign Affairs Ministry was quote/unquote "LIVID".

Instead of denouncing that decision and being "livid", and instead of them issuing consular ID cards so that their citizens can establish some sort of identification as an illegal in a foreign country, they should try to fix what's happening in their own backyard.

You know, everyone's blaming the United States for not being able to control the southern border, but in reality, Mexico is equally to blame for the problem. Now I'm starting to understand why Arizona needed that immigration law...

Exactly.

Exactly.

Right, but they chose to exploit this loophole (as you said above).

I believe you are mistaken; they certainly issue the card at consulates in the USA. Because there is no purpose to the card in Mexico, I'm not sure if they even issue them there (the card is for Mexican nationals living abroad). I believe they only issue the cards abroad.

That's why most get the card, yes.

I don't really follow your logic here. Issuing a DL is something the state does; how would a city council resolution change state law? What the Durham city council did was vote in favor of allowing the police to accept this card as proof of identification (not especially wise, but their choice). That is a far cry from being able to use it to get a DL.

Why they are issued (officially) and why they are issued (in reality) are two different inquiries; your paragraph above addresses the latter.

Of course they shouldn't be accepted by anyone, but that doesn't make accepting the card illegal not does it make the issuance of the card illegal.

---------------------------

Back on topic, is presentation of a Matricula Consular to the TDC an automatic referral to ICE?

Well there oughta be a law that prohibit accepting these bogus cards as identification.

It should be! It's a very grave problem if the TSA refuses to accept NEXUS cards, but they'll have no problem with a Consular ID card, or if they won't report its usage to immigration.

I actually would suggest that the person who originally asked this question to fly from PHX.. Lol, perhaps meet Joe Arpaio over coffee beforehand.

That would be fine.

Yes, but is it?

There's a big difference between accepting the card and rejecting the card but not snitching.

No, Mexico is not to blame. No country is responsible for keeping people inside, and no country is responsible for what its citizens do in a foreign country. Mexico may have some bad economic policies, but they are not responsible for what happens in the US as a result of this.

They have just as big of a responsibility to control the drug cartels along the border as the US does. And they either don't do it at all, or they do a very poor job. (that was little off topic)

As far as regular illegal immigrants, what I meant to say by blaming them is, instead of Mexican authorities being livid at US policies (and recently the Canadian visa requirement), they should work proactively to improve the economic conditions in their country. Not bluntly encouraging them to illegally immigrate by providing them with identification cards.

Its not snitching. Its enforcing a federal law, and they themselves would be committing a crime by not reporting the action to immigration officials. Why is it any different than reporting to local police if the TSA found drugs in someone's bag?

You could also say that the US has the responsibility of controlling the flow of firearms to Mexico, which fuel the violence of the drug cartels.

Of course they should work proactively to improve the economic conditions in their country. But they also have a responsibility to serve the needs of, and advocate for, their own citizens, whether legal or illegal. Every country does that (including the US, as the recent hikers situation shows).

Because having the Matricula Consular card is not illegal. A legal immigrant can obtain the card.

Yes, the US has a responsibility of controlling the flow of firearms as well (and I know that they're not perfect either).

I normally don't defend US policies very often, but the US does far more to secure the border and control contraband goods than Mexico.

Mexico has a responsibility to serve their citizens, but Mexico instead encourages the committing federal crimes of their citizens by providing them with tools. Then in the spirits of protecting the needs and advocating for their citizens, they outcry and protest laws aimed towards curbing the illegal immigrants.

Personally, I don't think they should have any rights. Zero. They're illegal. On top of using pubic resources, now they want the privilege of being able to fly domestically, open bank accounts, obtain credit, etc.

If you go to Mexico and try to do the same thing, Mexico suddenly changes its position on illegal immigration. Its ridiculous. And the Mexican government should stop making excuses and trying to protect them.

Yet, almost everyone who has such a card and attempts to use it is illegal. As those who are legal would actually have no need for the card, and would use valid IDs. Your correct that anyone could obtain a Matricula Consular card... but lets be honest and use common sense... who DOES obtain them?

Presenting a consular card creates a reasonable suspicion that the immigrant is illegal.

A legal immigrant using this card when they also have a driver's icence doesn't make sense. And if it doesn't make sense, its usually not true.

They may wish to obtain the card to be "registered" with the Mexican government for consular protection, but would certainly use a US driver's licence as ID to board an airplane within the US.. Or they would use a passport, or green card. Anything but this bogus matricula card.

Its not "snitching"; its due diligence.

You are correct, having the card and attempting to use it is not illegal (as far as I know, heck as of 2002/3 about a dozen states allowed people to use these cards to get drivers license).

But Section 8 USC 1324 makes it a crime, when you reasonably suspect someone of being illegal, to give them aid. I and other TSOs must report it to a LEO (actually contact a STSO, who upon verifying what we have seen, contact a LEO).

You can argue all you want, but it is reasonable for me to suspect that only those who are here illegally will have and use this card (take the person who posted the question that started the current conversation).

Specifically from Section 8 USC 1324:

"(ii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, transports, or moves or attempts to transport or move such alien within the United States by means of transportation or otherwise, in furtherance of such violation of law;"

and...

"(iii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, conceals, harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, such alien in any place, including any building or any means of transportation;"

Now, you may not like this, but there it is. Yes, TSA will contact a LEO. We are required to by law, as it is VERY reasonable to suspect this person is an illegal immigrant.

Its actually Title 8 USC 1324, not section 8.

But I agree, I think presenting this card as identification should involve immigration authorities investigating your legal status...

Its not snitching. Its upholding the law and its integrity. And its not any different than being caught by the TSA with drugs in your bag. Would you consider that snitching as well?

Presenting this card = Creates a reasonable suspicion that your illegal (as a TSO, you cannot prove that).

Possessing drugs in your bag = Creates a reasonable suspicion/probable cause (only the police may identify them as drugs, the TSA can only suspect that a certain object is a drug)

Either case, requires a call to the appropriate authorities.

If illegal immigrants want rights, they should go back to Mexico, and immigrate the legal way, and stop being a public charge on honest, tax paying citizens.

This should not be a debate on immigration policy. Take that to OMNI P/R

They did that by force? Your buddy should sue them.

Just as the TSA has zero business looking for drugs in someone's bag, or even trying to determine whether something they see is drugs, they have no business speculating on or reporting on someone's immigration status. TSA are not "law enforcement", they are government employees tasked with preventing WEI from getting on airplanes.