Published: November 12, 2010
Op-Ed Contributor
Matricula Consular a Perfect Breeder Document for Establishing a False Identity?
By Michael Cutler
I was just sent the news report that was posted online recently by the ABC-affiliated station in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, WTVD.
"Testimony of Steve McCraw, Assistant Director of The Office of Intelligence, FBI"
The news report discusses the debate now being conducted by the Durham City Council as to whether or not to allow the Matricula Consular cards issued by the government of Mexico to be used as an acceptable form of identification by apparent illegal aliens in that city.
Those who would approve such an insane proposal obviously do not care one iota about the need for our nation to secure its borders or discourage potential illegal aliens from seeking to enter our country. Clearly the acceptance of Matricula Consular cards could only have one purpose- to provide illegal aliens with the ability to conduct routine business in their city and, consequently, in our country.
It would appear that those who favor this proposal do not care if criminals or terrorists seize this opportunity to create new identities for themselves as an "embedding" tactic as described by the 9/11 Commission.
I want you to take the time to read the item I have also attached below. It is the testimony a gentleman by the name of Steven McCraw provided to a Congressional hearing on the issue of Matricula Consular cards. At the time of his testimony, back on June 26, 2003, he was the Assistant Director for the Office of Intelligence for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). After you read his testimony you should ask yourself, "How dare our government officials *on any level*, permit these cards to be used anywhere in the United States!"
Consider this sentence from Mr. McCraw's testimony:
The U.S. Government has done an extensive amount of research on the Matricula Consular, to assess its viability as a reliable means of identification. The Department of Justice and the FBI have concluded that the Matricula Consular is not a reliable form of identification, due to the non-existence of any means of verifying the true identity of the card holder. The following are the primary problems with the Matricula Consular that allow criminals to fraudulently obtain the cards: Now I would like you to consider this passage from Mr. McCraw's testimony:
The first criminal threat stems from the fact that the Matricula Consular can be a perfect breeder document for establishing a false identity. It is our understanding that as many as 13 states currently accept the Matricula Consular for the purpose of obtaining a drivers' license. Once in possession of a driver's license, a criminal is well on his way to using the false identity to facilitate a variety of crimes, from money laundering to check fraud. And of course, the false identity serves to conceal a criminal who is already being sought by law enforcement.
Individuals have been arrested with multiple Matricula Consular cards in their possession, each with the same photograph, but with a different name. Matching these false Matriculas are false driver's licenses, also found in the criminals' possession. Such false identities are particularly useful to facilitate the crime of money laundering, as the criminal is able to establish one or more bank accounts under completely fictitious names. Accounts based upon such fraudulent premises greatly hamper money-laundering investigations once the criminal activity is discovered.
As the Subcommittee is well aware, the FBI is particularly concerned about fraudulent financial transactions in the post 9/11 environment, given the fact that foreign terrorists often rely on money transferred from within the United States.* There are other substantive reasons why the acceptance of Matricula Consular cards imperil the safety of our citizens and the security of our nation. This is why I urge you to read all of the testimony I have provided below.
Also of extreme importance is the simple and undeniable fact- Matricula cards provide evidence of an alien being illegally present in the United States. Aliens who are lawfully present do not need these documents. Aliens who lawful immigrants are issued so-called "Green Cards" obviating the need to seek documents such as the Matricula Consular. Special agents of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) could make a case for arresting any alien who proffers a Matricula card on the basis that the card constitutes evidence of his illegal status in our country! (Of course we know that this will not happen because the administration and such "leaders" in the United States Congress such as Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer don't want to arrest any illegal aliens- they want to confer United States citizenship upon them. Of course in their twisted version of "reality" they would then claim that there are no illegal aliens in the United States, they would all be United States citizens!
Government officials who attempt to blur the distinction between aliens who are lawfully admitted and aliens whose presence constitute a violation of our nation's immigration laws, and often other criminal statutes, could be accused of aiding, abetting, encouraging aliens to violate our nation's borders and remain in the United States thereafter, illegally. Under Title 8 of the United States Code, Section 1324 this sort of effort constitutes a felony!
Here is the link that that section of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA):
http://www.justice.gov/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/title9/crm01907.htm
Here is the portion of that statute that deals specifically with this issue:
US Attorneys USAM Title 9 Criminal Resource Manual 1907 prev next Criminal Resource Manual
1907 Title 8, U.S.C.
1324(a) Offenses Title 8, U.S.C. 1324(a) defines several distinct offenses related to aliens. Subsection 1324(a)(1)(i)-(v) prohibits alien smuggling, domestic transportation of unauthorized aliens, concealing or harboring unauthorized aliens, encouraging or inducing unauthorized aliens to enter the United States, and engaging in a conspiracy or aiding and abetting any of the preceding acts. Subsection 1324(a)(2) prohibits bringing or attempting to bring unauthorized aliens to the United States in any manner whatsoever, even at a designated port of entry. Subsection 1324(a)(3).
Alien Smuggling - Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(i) makes it an offense for any person who - knowing that a person is an alien, to bring to or attempts to bring to the United States in any manner whatsoever such person at a place other than a designated port of entry or place other than as designated by the Commissioner, regardless of whether such alien has received prior official authorization to come to, enter, or reside in the United States and regardless of any future official action which may be taken with respect to such alien.
Domestic Transporting - Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) makes it an offense for any person who - 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.
Harboring - Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii) makes it an offense for any person who - 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.
Encouraging/Inducing - Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv) makes it an offense for any person who - encourages or induces an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law.
Conspiracy/Aiding or Abetting - Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(v) expressly makes it an offense to engage in a conspiracy to commit or aid or abet the commission of the foregoing offenses.
While we witness the continual erosion of our expectations of privacy and freedom in the name of national security our "leaders" continue to ignore the law enforcement and intelligence professionals who have dedicated their lives to protecting our nation and our communities.
Simply stated, this represents a betrayal of every citizen of the United States of America!
If our country is to survive and if our children and their children are to get their share of the "American Dream" the citizens of this nation must take their citizenship seriously!
We the People must be the best citizens we can be, citizens who are worthy of the gallantry demonstrated by our valiant men and women in the military, law enforcement and firefighters, who routinely go in harm's way in defense of this nation and our citizens.
My goal in writing this and other commentaries is to point out our nations many failings *before* more victims pay the ultimate price for the incompetence and ineptitude of our government.
The first step in problem-solving is to first identify the problems and vulnerabilities and then devise strategies to overcome them.
If you find yourself to be in agreement with this commentary, I ask that you forward it to as many of your friends and family members as possible and encourage them to do the same. We need to create a "Bucket Brigade of Truth!"
Last week the voices of the citizens of our nation were heard in voting booths across this nation. The leadership in the House of Representatives, the "People's House" has shifted to the Republican Party. I can tell you although I have been a registered Democrat ever since I cast my first vote more than 4 decades ago, that I am thrilled that when Congress re-convenes in January that the House Judiciary Committee will be chaired by a true leader in the House of Representatives, Representative Lamar Smith. I have known Mr. Smith for many years and, in fact, the very first time I was invited to testify before a Congressional hearing it was before the House Immigration Subcommittee that he chaired at the time, back in May of 1997.
I am similarly optimistic that effective this January, the House Immigration Subcommittee will be chaired by another true leader, Congressman Steve King. I am also very familiar with Mr. King and look forward to his leadership.
That these two leaders will be in their respective positions is encouraging but this is only the starting point. What is of extreme importance is that every citizen of our country remembers that while it was the decisions made by the citizens on Election Day that has caused the important changes in the House of Representatives, the practice of good citizenship does not end in the voting booth, it only begins there.
The large scale apathy demonstrated by citizens of this nation for far too long, emboldened too many of our elected representatives to all but ignore the needs of the average American citizen in a quest for massive campaign funds and the promises of votes to be ostensibly delivered by special interest groups. There is much that we cannot do but there is one thing that We the People absolutely must do- we must stop sitting on the sidelines!
The collective failure of We the People to get involved in making our concerns known to our politicians have, over the past several decades, made the concerns of the great majority of the citizens of this nation all but irrelevant to the politicians. I implore you to get involved!
If this situation concerns you or especially if it angers you, I ask you to call your Senators and Congressional Representative. This is not only your right- it is your obligation!
All I ask is that you make it clear to our politicians that we are involved and we will not allow the madness that got us into this mess to continue!
We live in a perilous world and in a perilous era. The survival of our nation and the lives of our citizens hang in the balance.
This is neither a Conservative issue, nor is it a Liberal issue- simply stated, this is most certainly an AMERICAN issue!
You are either part of the solution or you are a part of the problem!
Democracy is not a spectator sport!
Lead, follow or get out of the way!
Please check out my website:
michaelcutler.netClick on the links below to RePatriot Radio and listen to the internet radio show I host on Friday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time:
Bordering on Insanity! Listen Live! www.repatriotradio.com or www.libertyandfreedomradio.net
Audience email questions/comments repatriotradio@comcast.net
Michael Cutler is an American Patriot concerned that elected representatives are serving themselves and not the people.
* The views of Opinion writers do not necessarily reflect the views of NewsBlaze
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