WHEREAS, the Mexican Consulates, as part of Mexico's commitment to the United States' fight against terrorism, have started issuing new high security consular identification cards, designated as "Matricula Consular", to identify the persons carrying them and to ensure authenticity of the identification card; and

WHEREAS, Matricula Consular cards are issued by Mexican Consulates to all Mexican citizens who can prove their nationality and identity, particularly for undocumented immigrants who have no other form of identification; and

WHEREAS, Matricula Consular cards show the holder's photograph, legal address, and signature; and

WHEREAS, on November 30, 2001, the City of San Francisco became the first U.S. city to accept Matricula Consular cards; and

WHEREAS, thereafter many other jurisdictions in California as well as Arizona, Iowa, Illinois, Georgia, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Texas, have followed suit; and

WHEREAS, Matricula Consular cards do not enable the holders to obtain any government services for which they are not eligible, and nor does it affect the legal status of undocumented immigrants or protect them from possible arrest by federal immigration authorities; and

WHEREAS, Matricula Consular cards encourage undocumented Mexicans to report crimes to the police and to cooperate with the police in investigating crimes, because the holders would not have to fear unwarranted arrest; and

WHEREAS, Matricula Consular cards serve as identification to facilitate everyday tasks such as cashing checks, opening a bank account, and proving age in a liquor establishment, which most Americans take for granted; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that state departments and agencies and county departments and agencies are urged to accept Mexican Consular cards as official identification for their respective purposes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the State Attorney General, the mayors of each county, and the police chief of each county.

Report Title:

Mexican Consular Identification Cards