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| Media Ignores FBI Warnings About Security Danger of Flimsy Mexican IDs |
| 2004-04-22 |
| Pick up any newspaper and the headlines are typically about the 9/11 Commission querying what advance warning was available, and what actions (if any) were taken to combat the growing terrorist threat. Even as the press is in a tizzy about these seeming revelations, the FBI has not only identified one glaring hole in the nation’s security system but also pointed out its risks, yet has provoked only a collective yawn in response. The reason, I surmise, is that the FBI is pointing fingers at one of the most sacred of cows: the Matricula Consular program, or MCAS (for Matricula Consular de Alta Seguridad). What is a MCAS? It is an identification card issued to Mexican nationals residing in the United States by the Mexican government via their 47 consulates here. The cards are issued regardless of the applicant’s immigration status; the FBI believes two million illegal Mexicans are already carrying this form of i.d. Unlike a traditional passport (which the FBI favors), the Matricula Consular does not readily identify a foreigner’s legal status. Thus, if someone has a valid passport, then he is "legal," but if he presents a Matricula Consular, even one validly issued by a Mexican consulate, that means very little. .... So, what are the terrorist risks posed by the MCAS? Let me have the FBI explain it in its own words. I quote verbatim from an unclassified Intelligence Assessment report on the topic issued on March 25, 2004, by the FBI’s San Antonio branch. .... "The most significant issue concerning United States security is that the ’MCAS’ cards are too easily obtained and are susceptible to forgery and fraudulent use. The ’MCAS’ can be allegedly fraudulently obtained via the internet for a nominal fee requiring only a set of passport photos, descriptive data, and a return address, to which the ’MCAS’ will be mailed automatically. The Department of Justice and the FBI have concluded that the consular identification card is not a reliable form of identification, due to the non-existence of any means of verifying the true identity of the card holder. .... "At the present time, undocumented Mexicans in the United States are the largest beneficiaries of the consular identification card.... However, other countries have also seen the potential to benefit from allowing their citizens the opportunity to obtain a similar card. El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, and Poland are aware of Mexico’s success in getting their consular identification card accepted in the United States. Argentina has decided to issue a consular identification card to approximately 180,000 Argentineans residing in California..... The ease of obtaining an ’MCAS’ became a major concern in the wake of September 11, 2001, due to possible utilization by terrorists. As the use and concept of ’MCAS’ gains acceptance, the threat of countries hostile to the U.S. or those known to sponsor terrorist organizations issuing said cards is greater. The ability of foreign nationals to use the ’MCAS’ to create a well-documented, but fictitious, identity in the United States provides an opportunity for terrorists to move freely within the United States without name-based watch lists that are disseminated to local police officers. It also allows them to board planes without revealing their true identities." .... |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |
| #20 dcreeper, I agree that immigration is the lifeblood of America and that we are a nation of immigrants. That is why I specifically mention LEGAL aliens. (I am happily married to a LEGAL alien!). And no, I am not going to comment on the 'female culture' around here. The problem is that LEGAL aliens do not have any use for this card -- they already have valid immigraion documentation (visa & passport, Green Card, etc....) which is difficult to forge. What the hell would they need this card for? This card is an attempt by the Mexican government (and certain treasonous U.S. politicians on both sides) to circumvent Federal immigration laws and give illegal aliens psuedo 'documentation'. As mentioned these cards are easy to forge. And you do pay for ILLEGAL aliens. Increased 'medical' costs (an illegal alien gets free medical - I had to pay thru the nose for my son's birth), increased public education costs (including having a entirely seperate set of classrooms taught in spanish in Californina), police protection (these are not 'law abiding' people by definition), etc.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-04-22 3:46:22 PM |
| #19 I just don't see the big deal, people have loved to hate the Mexican folks since the 20s or 30s, did you know weed was originally outlawed with the hopes of encouraging the Mexicans to stop coming to our country? weird but true :-p as for the state being near bankruptcy.. last I heard that was claimed to be the fault of the previous gov'ner + some kinda shoddy business practices by the energy companies... immigration is often called the life blood of our country, keeps us young and freedom loving, few people are as patriotic as an new american, they know what it is like on the outside.. I can’t claim to be an expert on the matter, buh I certainly prefer first/second generation American women to others, they tend to resist the shitty female culture we have around here (does it bother anyone else that despite the fact that we have institutionalized women as being legally the equal of men, we still, as a culture, raise them to be weaker?) |
| Posted by: dcreeper 2004-04-22 3:27:29 PM |
| #18 BTW: Shipman<=========== Crew Cut Jew Redneck |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-22 2:25:52 PM |
| #17 The word you're desperately searching for is Metropolitan. As in "Left Deviationist metropolitans" |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-22 2:24:08 PM |
| #16 Not unless you are some leftist pinko "person of the world" type. Then I am afraid in my world, you might be one of the first people of the left that is ruining my country to be put up against the wall!! I'm hearing ya. Boris? Is that you? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-22 2:22:34 PM |
| #15 KB - I am far from any kind of racist. What part of ILLEGAL do you not understand? You agree with me that ILLEGALS are problem? The exact people that you got your panties in a bunch over are the same ones being used as something "less" than cattle. What is to stop the Islamo Fascists from getting these MCAS cards? You might not pay for thier services at the check stand, but you do pay for them. Btw - You got a problem with protecting our borders? If you know anything about the history of the US border with Mexico.....I don't think you would resort to name calling. Not unless you are some leftist pinko "person of the world" type. Then I am afraid in my world, you might be one of the first people of the left that is ruining my country to be put up against the wall!! |
| Posted by: John Long Hair 2004-04-22 12:53:13 PM |
| #14 hey now, we need those mexicans in this country, if for nothing else than to shame our own workers, you ever work with mexicans? I have, 1 can do the labor of 5 americans, as a people we are getting lazy Wow, that sure saves you a lot of money, doesn't it? I mean, why pay an American or a legal alien a decent wage (notice how I didn't say "living") when a dirt cheap wage can be given to some illegal who probably won't complain? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-04-22 11:30:46 AM |
| #13 Kentucky Beef and I think alike on this issue. Arrival of the fittest. Fingerprint 'em all. Brown huh... right anon, excellent argument. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-22 11:19:58 AM |
| #12 Matricula Consular is another name for waste paper. Not a valid ID, pal, and I will tear it up and toss it in the gutter if you present it. Then I'll drag you over to La Migra, because the odds are damn good you're an illegal. |
| Posted by: Officer Friendly 2004-04-22 10:45:39 AM |
| #11 Kentucky Beef, First of all we are talking about ILLEGAL ALIENS. They are here ILLEGALLY - in direct violation of FEDERAL LAWS. That alone tells me that they are not 'law-abiding' people. These cards are not for 'legal aliens' -- they already have valid immigration identification (Visa / Passport / Green Card / etc...) and dont need this card (which by the way is issued by a FOREIGN GOVERNMENT). I have been to the local INS office. I've been through the process of getting someone a Visa and then a green card. It is not easy -- it is not meant to be. I've had to go throught the black-hole called the Nebraska Service Center for a petition. Yes the INS is always very busy but is doing the best they can. Are your immigrants too lazy to line up for 3-4 hours to get legal status? The fact of the matter is that they have no legal status and if they did go to the INS office they would be told to leave the country because they are here ILLEGALLY. Coming to America is a PRIVLEDGE and not a right. There is a LEGAL PROCEDURE to obtain LEGAL admission and immigration -- which performs background and status checks. There are thousands if not millions of people waiting for 10 - 20 years to LEGALLY come to the United States. That is the way it is if you dont like it then change the immigration system or tough shit. Of course a lot of liberals want the illegal aliens here so they can have their cheap labor and domestic servants and so they can 'feel good' about 'helping some unfortunate, undocumented, worker' (often at taxpayer expense -- look at California!). Personally I feel we should deport ALL ILLEGALS no matter where they came from. If an alien shows one of these cards they should *have* to prove their legal status or be deported. American is a land of immigrants all right -- LEGAL immigrants. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-04-22 10:08:37 AM |
| #10 this trend can be reversed...call 'em as they are - illegal aliens. Refuse the PC "undocumented immigrants". The first time a terror attack is perpetrated by someone (Arab, Mexican, it doesn't matter which) sneaking in across teh Mexican border - it will be shut down, and rightfully so. A country that doesn't control it's borders is lost. KB - you're out of line. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-04-22 10:03:42 AM |
| #9 dcreeper, it is a true indicator of the impact of the Clinton years on the rule of law in this country that the California Assembly can actually pass a bill specifying that illegal aliens that graduate from California high schools are to be considered "in-state" students for purposes of admission, tuition, and financial aid. With thinking like this, is it any wonder that the state is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. I guess it all depends on what the meaning of illegal is. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-04-22 9:45:26 AM |
| #8 hey now, we need those mexicans in this country, if for nothing else than to shame our own workers, you ever work with mexicans? I have, 1 can do the labor of 5 americans, as a people we are getting lazy |
| Posted by: dcreeper 2004-04-22 8:43:32 AM |
| #7 KB, you're comments are out of touch with reality. California is all minorities. Whites only constitute 49% of the population. The problem with Mexicans is that unlike the other groups, many of them don't want to be Americans. The refuse to assimilate. They want to essentially undo the 19th century and return Aztlan (most of the Southwest) to Mexico. Also, because of a few adverse and unbelievable court decisions, the state has to shell out $7B a year subsidizing illegal aliens (undocumented workers, document challenged citizens, etc). The Golden State is sending most of its gold south these days. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-04-22 8:38:12 AM |
| #6 Kentucky Beef, if you lived in Southern California instead of your PC tower, you might have a clue what you are talking about. Those farm workers who "just want some f***ing food via a job" cost California $7B a year in benefits, clog our schools, have virtually closed most of the emergency rooms in San Diego and Imperial county. It's easier to feel sorry for someone when you don't have to pick up the check, listen to slimy politicians trying to access Motor Voter through driver's licenses for illegals, etc. The Mexicans SHOOT anyone trying to sneak across their southern border. California had a "guest worker" (bracero) program for years before bleeding hearts like you shut it down shut it down as in favor of the midnight run. Unless you're a MEChA member and politically driven, do a little study before you spout specious slogans. |
| Posted by: Random thoughts 2004-04-22 8:28:34 AM |
| #5 Soryy Kentucky Beef, you're just a bit too brown to be trustworthy. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4426 2004-04-22 8:03:20 AM |
| #4 Kentucky Beef: Maybe you didn't read the last paragraph of the posting. |
| Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-04-22 7:17:54 AM |
| #3 John Long Hair: Hey stupid, I don't recall EVER hearing about a terrorist attack carried out by a poor Mexican farm worker. You're an idiot. You know nothing. Hispanic people are on our side of the WOT. 99% support us. They just want some f***ing food via a job. And you can't get welfare unless you have a green card, stupid! But you wouldn't know anything about that, would you? Ever been to the I.N.S. building in your local city? Why don't you try lining up there at 5 a.m. and waiting for ten f***ing hours to get a stupid piece of paper....Now when it comes to Muslims, I'm all for fingerprinting & photographing the hell out of them as well as SEVERLY restricting their visas. We should also carry out RANDOM surveillance of Muslims in the domestic setting. I also advocate completely ELIMINATING immigration from certian Muslim countries right now, unless there is a CIA or Pentagon waiver, like for foreign nationals that aid our national security, etc. But, you're just an idiotic xenophobe by ranting, pardon the pun, about "illegals." They're ECONOMICALLY driven...JUST LIKE OUR ANCESTORS WERE STUPID. You know I don't think our grandfathers, etc. had to wait TEN FING YEARS!! to get their citizenship, did they? They got off the boat and they were a citizen when they're boots hit the ground. IS THAT FAIR? NAME ONE MEXICAN TERRORIST EVER CAUGHT...You can't. They are 99.9999% CHRISTIANS. |
| Posted by: Kentucky Beef 2004-04-22 5:21:46 AM |
| #2 consider the news media to be the colliseum of the year 2004. Free entertainment to keep the masses occupied. |
| Posted by: B 2004-04-22 2:49:38 AM |
| #1 When I read the news headlines today, it's about Wacko Jacko and Kobe "The Rapist" Bryant. There is nothing on the enemies of our south, and the parasites that bring crime and drain our social resources. Let alone, for heaven sake, even the possibility of terrorists from the southern US border!! Nothing like that...that might appear racist or insensitive. Anything to prevent the American people from thinking of the dangers that are flowing into our country everyday. No we can't have them thinking of "them" in that way. Heaven forbid. We might all decide to go out and get guns and start doing our constitutional duty of protecting our BORDERS and slitting some throats! |
| Posted by: John Long Hair 2004-04-22 12:26:36 AM |