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Mexican ID cards may hold trouble |
| Sep 4, 2002 |
For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
BY: Elaine Boyer
SECTION: Editorial
PAGE: A13
Thanks to DeKalb County's Chief Executive Officer Vernon Jones, county officials may be about to violate federal laws that delineate powers between Washington, the states and local governments.
Jones has proposed that DeKalb's government recognize a new form of identification issued by the Mexican consulate's office. A "matricular consular" is an official photo ID from the Mexican government saying the holder is a Mexican citizen. But in no way does it certify that the person is in the United States legally.
The glaring problem with this proposal is that local governments have no such authority. The U.S. Constitution and Congress gave the power to the federal government to enforce our borders and regulate foreign nationals. That is why we have a State Department, which issues visas, green cards and other working papers for guests in our country.
If DeKalb gets into the business of recognizing consulate ID cards, it is in effect opening its own foreign relations office. Again, that's something explicitly limited to the federal government. Many DeKalb residents are wondering if this is a back-door attempt at legitimizing illegal immigrants. After all, legal visitors living and working in the country already have the proper paperwork that serves as identification. A valid guest worker has a green card. Others are issued visas, which limit the time of stay.
When the federal government issues these forms of identification, background checks are required. If we were to allow this new consular identification, we would be turning over homeland security to a foreign country. It would be the Mexican consulate's decision whether to review applicants for criminal histories. After establishing a homeland security office in DeKalb recently, the last thing we should do is turn over such security matters to an entity that is not charged with protecting American citizens.
It's obvious what Jones and others are trying to do. This is a plan devised solely to aid illegal immigrants. But even Gov. Roy Barnes and the Legislature were wise enough to back down this past winter from a proposal to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. They realized the serious security issues that could arise.
The CEO suggests that with these IDs, Mexicans in DeKalb could more easily access county services and open bank accounts. But it's what he has left out of the dialogue that is most important. Mexicans -- legal or illegal -- can already use many county services such as Grady Memorial Hospital. They are not turned away from the emergency room at DeKalb Medical Center. Their children can enroll in DeKalb public schools. Assistance is always rendered at DeKalb's health department.
Visitors to our country can also access banking services. Those here legally may open bank accounts with their green cards, visas or other official documentation. It is common knowledge that those here illegally obtain false Social Security cards and other fake IDs to open accounts and wire money home.
If the DeKalb commission ignores federal jurisdiction in this issue, there are other serious questions that can't be ignored. Will these cards enable illegal immigrants with criminal records to gain more rights? Will this endanger national security as countries line up to seek similar accommodations? Will these IDs make it easier for illegal residents to get a driver's license? Will they then be able to register to vote?
On Sept. 10, one day before the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks, the DeKalb commission will decide whether to recognize these cards that clearly circumvent immigration policies and could jeopardize national security. How quickly we forget the importance of being diligent about protecting our borders. We should welcome legal immigrants, but DeKalb County should not be in the business of helping legitimize those who flout the rule of law.
Elaine Boyer is a DeKalb County commissioner. |
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